Nomada pygmaea

Cresson, 1863

Pygmy Nomad

Nomada pygmaea is a of kleptoparasitic 'cuckoo' in the Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1863. As a member of the Nomada, it lays in the nests of bee species rather than constructing its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is found in North America, with confirmed records from Vermont and other regions. Like other nomad bees, it exhibits the characteristic -like appearance resulting from reduced hair coverage, an associated with its parasitic lifestyle.

Nomada near pygmaea, gynandromorph, A.A Co., MD 2019-03-20-12.17.57 ZS PMax UDR (32496710177) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.Nomada near pygmaea, gynandromorph, face, A.A Co., MD 2019-03-20-12.14.11 ZS PMax UDR (46523251965) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.Nomada near pygmaea, gynandromorph, mandibles, A.A. Co., MD 2019-03-20-12.21.51 ZS PMax UDR (32496709327) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada pygmaea: /noʊˈmɑːdə pɪɡˈmiːə/

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

Images

Distribution

North America; confirmed present in Vermont, United States.

Ecological Role

Kleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits nests of other . As is typical for the Nomada, females lay in nests where their larvae consume the host's provisions and offspring.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'pygmaea' refers to the small or pygmy size of this relative to other members of the Nomada.

Tags

Sources and further reading