Nomada maculata

Cresson, 1863

Spotted Nomad Bee

Nomada maculata, the Spotted Nomad Bee, is a kleptoparasitic in the Apidae. 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 cuckoo bee, females enter host nests to deposit eggs, and the resulting larvae 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/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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-collecting bees, 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 genitalia.

Images

Habitat

Open including grasslands, meadows, and forest edges where Andrena bees 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 bees are actively nesting.

Diet

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

Host Associations

Andrena - kleptoparasitePrimary ; 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 deposit in unsealed nest . Larvae 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 patrol nesting areas to locate mates.

Behavior

Males exhibit patrolling 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 deposit . No nest-building behavior; females spend considerable time searching for and entering host nests.

Ecological Role

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

Human Relevance

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

Similar Taxa

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