Nomada vegana

Cockerell, 1903

nomad bee

Nomada vegana is a of kleptoparasitic nomad bee in the Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1903. As a member of the Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic cuckoo bee lifestyle of laying in the nests of species rather than constructing its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is known from Central America and North America, with iNaturalist recording over 1,800 observations. Like other Nomada species, it likely targets nests of Andrena or related ground-nesting bees as hosts.

Nomada (Micronomada) vegana var. nitiscens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Nomada (Micronomada) vegana var. nitiscens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Nomada (Micronomada) vegana var. nitiscens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada vegana: /nɔˈmaː.da veˈɡaː.na/

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Distribution

Central America and North America. GBIF records confirm presence in Middle America and North America.

Ecological Role

As a kleptoparasitic , N. vegana functions as a nest of other bee , likely ground-nesting Andrena or related bees. This parasitic relationship represents a specialized ecological interaction within bee .

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Sources and further reading