Cleptoparasite
Guides
Gasteruption visaliae
Carrot Wasp
Gasteruption visaliae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, commonly known as carrot wasps. The species exhibits the distinctive family traits of an elongated neck, slender body, and enlarged hind tibiae. Like other gasteruptiids, it is presumed to parasitize solitary bees and wasps nesting in twigs or wood borings, though specific host records for this species remain limited. Females possess a long ovipositor for accessing host nests.
Hedychrum parvum
Hedychrum parvum is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. As with other members of this genus, it is likely a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other wasps, particularly digger wasps. The species has been rarely recorded, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. Its small size and metallic coloration are characteristic of the genus.
Holcopasites
cuckoo bees
Holcopasites is a genus of small, uncommon cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. The genus contains at least 20 described species distributed in North America. All species are obligate brood parasites that infiltrate the nests of solitary host bees to exploit food provisions intended for host offspring. Males are distinguished from nearly all other Apidae by having 12 antennal segments rather than the typical 13.
Holopyga
cuckoo wasps
Holopyga is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae. Species in this genus exhibit a distinctive cleptoparasitic life history: females oviposit into aphids, and when crabronid wasps such as Pemphredon collect these aphids as prey for their nests, the Holopyga larva emerges first and consumes the food stores intended for the host larva. This indirect parasitism of wasp nests via aphid intermediates has been documented for Holopyga by Veenendaal (2012). The genus contains approximately 35 described species distributed across Europe and other regions.
Holopyga horus
Holopyga horus is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Holopyga, it is a cleptoparasite that exploits the nests of other wasps. Research indicates that females may lay eggs directly into aphids, which are then captured by crabronid wasps such as Pemphredon and carried to their nests. The cuckoo wasp larva emerges before the host larva and consumes the provisions intended for the host offspring. This indirect parasitic strategy has been documented in related Holopyga species and is suspected to occur in H. horus.
Holopyga ventralis
Holopyga ventralis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. The genus Holopyga comprises small, brilliantly metallic-colored wasps that are cleptoparasites of other wasps. Based on observations of related species in the genus, H. ventralis likely exhibits the distinctive parasitic behavior of laying eggs into aphids, which are then carried as prey by crabronid wasps into their nests where the Holopyga larva develops at the expense of the host wasp's offspring.
Hylaeus nelumbonis
Nelumbo Masked Bee
Hylaeus nelumbonis is a species of masked bee (family Colletidae) native to North America. Like other members of the genus Hylaeus, it is a solitary, nearly hairless bee that resembles small wasps in appearance. The species name "nelumbonis" suggests an association with Nelumbo (lotus), though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented. As with most Hylaeus species, females transport nectar internally in a crop rather than externally on body hairs.
Melecta edwardsii
Edward's melectum
Melecta edwardsii is a species of digger-cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1879. As a cleptoparasite, females enter the nests of host digger bees to lay eggs, with their larvae consuming the pollen and nectar provisions intended for the host's offspring. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain limited in the available literature.
Melecta pacifica
Melecta pacifica is a large, solitary bee species in the family Apidae. It is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of digger bees, specifically Anthophora pacifica. The species occurs in North America and includes three recognized subspecies. Females enter host burrows to lay eggs, and their larvae consume the pollen and nectar provisions intended for the host's offspring.
Melecta separata
Melecta separata is a cleptoparasitic bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Apidae, native to North America. The species contains six recognized subspecies distributed across western and southwestern regions of the continent. Like other members of the genus Melecta, it is a nest parasite of solitary bees, particularly species in the genus Anthophora. The subspecies M. separata callura has been specifically documented as a cleptoparasite of Anthophora pacifica.
Melecta separata callura
Melecta separata callura is a subspecies of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. As a member of the genus Melecta, it is a cleptoparasite that exploits the nests of other bee species. The subspecies was described by Cockerell in 1926.
Melectini
cuckoo bees
Melectini is a tribe of medium- to large-sized cleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae. Members are brood parasites of digger bees (Anthophorini) and are found worldwide. Females lack pollen-collecting structures such as scopae, basitibial plates, and prepygidial fimbria. The tribe includes approximately eight genera, with Melecta and Thyreus being the most diverse.
Mesoplia dugesi
Mesoplia dugesi is a species of bee in the family Apidae, tribe Ericrocidini. It was described by Cockerell in 1917. The species has a restricted distribution in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with confirmed records from Arizona and adjacent Mexican states. As a member of the cleptoparasitic tribe Ericrocidini, it is presumed to exhibit nest parasitism behavior targeting other bee species, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Microchridium
Microchridium is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae, established by Bohart in 1980. It belongs to the order Hymenoptera, a group that includes wasps, bees, and ants. As with other chrysidids, members of this genus are likely cleptoparasitic, laying eggs in the nests of other wasps or bees. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published information and very few observations documented. Its taxonomic status is marked as doubtful in some databases, indicating potential issues with its validity or circumscription.
Myrmecophilidae
Ant Crickets, Ant-loving Crickets
Myrmecophilidae, commonly known as ant crickets or ant-loving crickets, are a small family of Orthoptera comprising fewer than 100 species across several genera. These minute, wingless crickets are obligate inquilines that live exclusively within ant nests, where they exhibit specialized morphological adaptations including reduced eyes, elongated antennae, and flattened bodies. The family has a global distribution with records from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands, though many species remain poorly documented. Members of this family do not produce sound and lack both wings and tympanal organs.
Neolarra californica
cuckoo bee
Neolarra californica is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is known to parasitize nests of Perdita difficilis, a mining bee species. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of the tribe Neolarrini, it represents one of the specialized parasitic lineages within the diverse Apidae family.
Neolarrini
Neolarrini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bees in the subfamily Nomadinae, family Apidae. Following recent phylogenomic revision, this tribe now encompasses approximately 40 species across five genera: Biastes, Neolarra, Rhopalolemma, Schwarzia, and Townsendiella. The tribe was expanded to include the former tribes Biastini and Townsendiellini as synonyms to ensure monophyly. Neolarrini likely originated in the Nearctic during the mid-Eocene and is exclusively composed of parasites of oligolectic host bees.
Neopasites
Neopasites is a subgenus of cuckoo bees within the genus Biastes (family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae). Established by Ashmead in 1898, it was formerly treated as a distinct genus but has been reclassified as a subgenus of Biastes. These bees are cleptoparasites, laying eggs in the nests of other bee species. The group is relatively small and understudied, with limited published information on species-level biology.
Neopasites fulviventris
Neopasites fulviventris is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1878. It belongs to the tribe Biastini within the subfamily Nomadinae, a group of bees known for their kleptoparasitic lifestyle. The species is native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bee species, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Neopasites mojavensis
Neopasites mojavensis is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. The species was described by Linsley in 1943 and is native to North America. As a member of the tribe Biastini, it is presumed to exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of host bees to exploit their provisions. The specific epithet "mojavensis" suggests an association with the Mojave Desert region.
Nomada gracilis
Gracile Nomad
Nomada gracilis is a cleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1863. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it does not construct nests or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bee species. The larvae consume the host's provisions and often kill the host larva. This species is recorded from North America, with specific observations documented from Vermont, United States.
Nomada imbricata
Imbricate Cuckoo Nomad Bee
Nomada imbricata is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Smith in 1854. Like all Nomada species, it is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bee species, primarily members of the genus Andrena. The species exhibits the characteristic reduced hairiness of cuckoo bees, having lost the branched body hairs used by pollen-collecting bees. Its common name "Imbricate" refers to the overlapping scale-like pattern of its integument.
Nomadini
Nomad bees
Nomadini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the subfamily Nomadinae, family Apidae. The tribe contains the genus Nomada, one of the largest genera of cuckoo bees with over 850 species worldwide. These bees are obligate cleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily mining bees (Andrena). They lack pollen-carrying structures and exhibit wasp-like coloration with red, black, and yellow patterns.
Nysson subtilis
Nysson subtilis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada including Nova Scotia. The species is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo wasp) that targets nests of other ground-nesting crabronid wasps, particularly those in the genus Hoplisoides. It can be distinguished from congeners by its entirely black front.
Nysson tristis
Nysson tristis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is a member of the genus Nysson, which comprises cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other digger wasps. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other Nysson species, it likely targets the nests of sand wasps (Bembicini) as hosts.
Nyssonini
Nyssonini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic wasps within the subfamily Bembicinae, family Crabronidae. Members are characterized by distinctive wing venation and heavily sculptured body surfaces. The tribe comprises approximately 238 species across 18 genera with worldwide distribution. As cleptoparasites, they exploit the nests of other wasps rather than constructing their own.
Omalus
cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps
Omalus is a genus of cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae), commonly known as jewel wasps for their metallic coloration. These small parasitoids employ a distinctive reproductive strategy: females insert eggs into living aphids at the hunting sites of their host wasps, using the aphid prey as an unwitting vehicle to transport their offspring into host brood cells. This indirect nest-entry strategy avoids the need for adult wasps to physically enter host nests. The genus includes multiple species across Europe, Asia, and North America, with some introduced species established in the United States.
Omalus aeneus
Cuckoo Wasp
Omalus aeneus is a small, metallic cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Females reach 4.5–5.4 mm in body length, males 4.4–5 mm. The species exhibits striking metallic coloration ranging from blue, green, and purple to nearly black or golden, with greenish-blue abdomen and legs. This cleptoparasitic wasp has two or more generations annually in southern Europe and exploits a remarkable indirect parasitism strategy: females oviposit into living aphids, which are subsequently captured by aphid-hunting crabronid wasps and transported to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva develops.
Omalus iridescens
Omalus iridescens is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Omalus, it is a cleptoparasite that exploits the nesting behavior of solitary wasps. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of chrysidid wasps. Based on documented behaviors of closely related Omalus species, females likely oviposit into aphids that are subsequently captured by crabronid wasps and transported to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva develops at the expense of the host's offspring.
Oreopasites barbarae
Barbara's oreopasites
Oreopasites barbarae is a species of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee described by Rozen in 1992. It belongs to the tribe Ammobatini within the subfamily Nomadinae, a group characterized by parasitic life histories. The species is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely parasitizes nests of ground-nesting bees, though specific host records remain undocumented.
Osirini
Osirini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae. Most genera are exclusively Neotropical and parasitize nests of bees in the tribe Tapinotaspidini. The genus Epeoloides is exceptional, containing one North American and one European species that parasitize the melittid genus Macropis. All species possess a unique morphological trait: a tiny sclerite embedded in the membrane beneath the head, possibly functioning as protection against host stings during nest invasion.
Paranomada
Paranomada is a genus of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, tribe Brachynomadini. The genus contains three described species, all endemic to western North America. As cleptoparasites, these bees do not construct their own nests or provision their own young, but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees.
Paranomada velutina
Black-velvet Flat-Nomad
Paranomada velutina is a cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, described by Linsley in 1939. It belongs to the subfamily Nomadinae, a group of bees that are cleptoparasites (nest parasites) of other bees. The species is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other nomadine bees, it lacks pollen-collecting structures and relies on host bees to provision its young.
Pseudorhyssa
Pseudorhyssa is a genus of ichneumonid wasps containing cleptoparasitic species that exploit the drill shafts of primary parasitoids to access hosts. The best-studied species, Pseudorhyssa sternata, parasitizes Siricid woodwasps by locating and utilizing oviposition holes made by the primary parasitoid Rhyssa persuasoria. Females detect host-infested trees through stimuli in larval frass, likely associated with symbiotic fungus, and locate specific drill shafts using secretions from the vaginal gland of the primary parasitoid.
Rhopalolemma rotundiceps
Rhopalolemma rotundiceps is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, described by Roig-Alsina in 1997. As a member of the tribe Biastini within the subfamily Nomadinae, it is a cleptoparasitic bee that lays eggs in the nests of host bees. The species is known from North America. Little detailed biological information has been published for this species.
Sapyga
Sapyga is a genus of sapygid wasps comprising at least 19 described species. Species in this genus are cleptoparasites (kleptoparasites) of solitary bees, particularly megachilid bees. They enter host nests to lay eggs in unfinished or provisioned cells, with their larvae consuming host provisions and killing host larvae. The genus exhibits specialized parasitic adaptations including the ability to oviposit through cell closures.
Sapyga angustata
Sapyga angustata is a species of sapygid wasp, a member of the family Sapygidae within the order Hymenoptera. Sapygid wasps are cleptoparasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees and wasps, where their larvae consume the host's provisions. This species is part of a genus distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with records primarily from Europe and western Asia. Observations of S. angustata remain relatively sparse, reflecting both its small size and its secretive nesting biology.
Sapyga centrata
Sapyga centrata is a small, solitary wasp in the family Sapygidae, a group of cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other solitary bees. The species is characterized by a compact black body with yellow or white markings and a distinctive clubbed antenna. It is native to North America and has been documented across a broad geographic range. As a cleptoparasite, it does not construct its own nest or provision food for its offspring, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bees.
Sapyga confluenta
Sapyga confluenta is a species of sapygid wasp in the family Sapygidae, a group of solitary wasps that are cleptoparasites of other solitary bees. The species belongs to the genus Sapyga, which is the type genus of the family. Sapygid wasps are generally small to medium-sized with distinctive body shapes and are known for their parasitic lifestyle targeting mason bees and other solitary bee groups.
Sapyga martinii
Sapyga martinii is a species of solitary wasp in the family Sapygidae. The genus Sapyga comprises cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other solitary bees, particularly mason bees (Osmia) and leafcutter bees (Megachile). Adults are typically observed visiting flowers for nectar. The species is documented in the western United States, with records from California.
Sphecodes aroniae
Sphecodes aroniae is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to a genus of cleptoparasitic bees commonly known as blood bees, which lay eggs in the nests of other solitary bees. The species was described by Mitchell in 1960 and is known from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont, United States.
Sphecodes confertus
Sphecodes confertus is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, this species is a nest parasite of other halictid bees. The species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed observations from Vermont.
Sphecodes davisii
Davis's Cuckoo Sweat Bee
Sphecodes davisii is a cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, it exhibits the cuckoo bee lifestyle: females enter nests of host sweat bees to lay eggs in brood cells, where their larvae consume the host's provisions and developing young. The species is native to North America, with documented records from Vermont and broader North American distribution. Like other Sphecodes, it likely targets ground-nesting Halictidae as hosts.
Sphecodes dichrous
Blood Bee
Sphecodes dichrous is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as a blood bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, primarily sweat bees (Halictus and Lasioglossum species). The larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and parasitize the host larvae. The species has been recorded in North America, including Vermont.
Sphecodes heraclei
Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Cyclops Blood Bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the subfamily Halictinae. The larvae consume the host's food stores and parasitize the host larvae. The species is native to North America and Central America, with records from both regions.
Sphecodes heraclei heraclei
Northern Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei heraclei is a subspecies of blood bee in the family Halictidae. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, it is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the family Halictidae. The subspecies was described by Robertson in 1897. Like other Sphecodes, females enter host nests to lay eggs in brood cells, with their larvae consuming the host's pollen provisions and parasitizing the host larvae.
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus
Fiery Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus is a subspecies of blood bee within the family Halictidae. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, this bee is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees. The subspecific epithet 'ignitus' (meaning 'fiery') and its common name suggest distinctive coloration. The species was described by Cockerell in 1922. As a Sphecodes, it exhibits the characteristic parasitic lifestyle of the genus, targeting sweat bees and other ground-nesting halictids.
Sphecodes mandibularis
Sphecodes mandibularis is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. The genus Sphecodes comprises cleptoparasitic bees that typically invade nests of other halictid bees. This species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed observations in Vermont, United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Sphecodes ranunculi
Blood Bee
Sphecodes ranunculi is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Robertson in 1897. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, commonly known as "blood bees" for their typically red and black coloration, this species exhibits the cuckoo-like reproductive strategy characteristic of the genus: females invade nests of other solitary bees to lay eggs in host brood chambers. The parasitic larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and prey upon the host's developing young.
Sphecodes solonis
sweat bee
Sphecodes solonis is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It is a cleptoparasitic or 'cuckoo' bee, meaning females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees. The species was described by Graenicher in 1911. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, it exhibits a wasp-like appearance with a slender waist and typically reddish or dark coloration.