Nomada maculata

Cresson, 1863

Spotted Nomad Bee

Nomada maculata, the Spotted Nomad , is a kleptoparasitic bee in the . Like other members of the Nomada, it does not construct its own nest but instead lays in the nests of bee species, primarily ground-nesting bees in the genus Andrena. The species is found in North America, with documented records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a , females enter host nests to eggs, and the resulting consume the host's pollen provisions and may destroy the host egg or larva.

Nomada maculata male by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Nomada maculata female by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Nomada maculata male 1 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada maculata: /nɔˈmaː.da ma.kuˈlaː.ta/

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Identification

Nomada maculata can be distinguished from other Nomada by its spotted coloration pattern, though specific diagnostic features require expert examination. Members of the Nomada typically exhibit -like appearance with reduced body hair compared to pollen- , reflecting their kleptoparasitic lifestyle. Males and females can be differentiated by antennal structure and genital . Species-level identification within Nomada generally requires examination of microscopic characters including punctation patterns, coloration details, and male .

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Habitat

Open including grasslands, meadows, and forest edges where Andrena nest in bare or sparsely vegetated ground. The requires proximity to flowering plants that provide nectar for and that support of host bees.

Distribution

North America; documented from the northeastern United States including Vermont. GBIF records indicate presence in North America with specific locality data from Vermont, US.

Seasonality

Spring and early summer activity period, coinciding with the nesting season of Andrena . and mating typically occur when host are actively nesting.

Diet

feed on nectar from flowers. are kleptoparasitic, consuming pollen and nectar provisions stored by in their nests.

Host Associations

  • Andrena - Primary ; specific host within Andrena not definitively documented for N. maculata

Life Cycle

Females locate nests through chemical cues, enter during the host's absence, and in unsealed nest . hatch and consume the host's pollen provision, typically destroying the host egg or larva. Development occurs within the host nest, with emerging the following season. Males emerge before females and nesting areas to locate mates.

Behavior

Males exhibit near nesting and at flowers, particularly willow shrubs. Courtship involves 'antennal grabbing' where males wind their around the female's antennae, a behavior first documented in the Nomada through studies of related . Males have been observed marking 'dating spots' by rubbing their bodies against vegetation to . No nest-building behavior; females spend considerable time searching for and entering host nests.

Ecological Role

of ground-nesting ; are necessarily tied to bee abundance. As with many parasitic , N. maculata is likely less abundant than its hosts. Contributes to through its role in bee dynamics and may influence host nesting and distribution.

Human Relevance

Of interest to researchers and biologists studying bee and parasitic relationships. Not an agricultural pest or of economic due to its parasitic lifestyle and lack of pollen- .

Similar Taxa

  • Nomada goodenianaSimilar kleptoparasitic lifestyle and -like appearance; distinguished by specific color pattern and associations
  • Nomada lathburianaShares black and coloration; identification requires examination of facial markings and punctation
  • Nomada striataOverlapping distribution and similar preferences; separation based on thoracic and abdominal pattern details

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Sources and further reading