Nomada tiftonensis

Cockerell, 1903

Tifton Nomad Bee

Nomada tiftonensis is a of cuckoo bee in the Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1903. As a member of the Nomada, it exhibits kleptoparasitic , laying in the nests of species rather than constructing its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is known from scattered records in the eastern and midwestern United States, including Michigan and Vermont. Like other nomad bees, it likely relies on visual and chemical cues to locate host nests.

Nomada tiftonensis, m, side, Minnesota 2016-04-19-14.10 (26674957615) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Nomada tiftonensis, m, back, Minnesota 2016-04-19-13.46 (26648591676) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Nomada tiftonensis, m, face, Minnesota 2016-06-27-17.27 (28288557012) by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada tiftonensis: //nɔˈmɑː.də ˌtɪf.təˈnɛn.sɪs//

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Distribution

Recorded from Michigan (Barry, Dickinson, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, and Van Buren counties) and Vermont in the United States. GBIF records indicate presence in these localities, though the full extent of its range remains poorly documented.

Ecological Role

As a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee, N. tiftonensis functions as a nest of other . Its larvae consume the 's pollen provisions and typically kill the host or larva. This parasitic relationship influences host and may affect pollination services provided by the host species.

More Details

Taxonomic placement

The belongs to the largest of cuckoo bees, Nomada, which contains over 800 described species worldwide. The genus is characterized by reduced scopae (pollen-collecting hairs) and reliance on bees for .