Nomada gutierreziae

Cockerell, 1896

Nomada gutierreziae is a of cuckoo bee in the Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1896. As a member of the Nomada, it exhibits kleptoparasitic , laying in the nests of species rather than constructing its own nests. The species is known from Middle and North America. Like other Nomada species, females likely locate host nests using chemical cues. Males of the genus have been observed to engage in "antennal grabbing" during copulation, a behavior involving the winding of around the female's antennae to transfer , though this specific behavior has not been directly documented for N. gutierreziae.

Nomada gutierreziae by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada gutierreziae: //noʊˈmædə ˌɡuːtjəˈrɛzi.eɪ//

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Distribution

Middle America and North America. GBIF records indicate presence in both regions, with specific distribution details limited.

Ecological Role

Kleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits nests of other . As a nest , it reduces the reproductive success of its species while occupying a specialized in bee .

Similar Taxa

Nomada flavoguttataBoth are congeneric cuckoo bees with similar kleptoparasitic ; N. flavoguttata has been directly studied for mating including antennal grabbing
Other Nomada speciesShare the -level trait of kleptoparasitism and -like appearance due to reduced branched hairs; identification to level requires detailed examination

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'gutierreziae' likely honors an individual with the surname Gutierrez, though the exact etymology is not documented in available sources.

Data limitations

This has only 4 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported.