Cleptoparasite
Guides
Stelis
leach orchids
Stelis is a genus of Old World cleptoparasitic bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Anthidiini. These bees are obligate cleptoparasites, meaning they do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees, where their larvae consume the host's pollen provisions. The genus was established by Panzer in 1806 and contains multiple species distributed across Europe, Asia, and into the Arabian Peninsula. Some species have shown recent range expansions, with new country records continuing to be documented.
Stelis australis floridensis
Stelis australis floridensis is a subspecies of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Mitchell in 1962. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this bee is a kleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily megachilid hosts. The subspecific epithet 'floridensis' indicates its association with Florida. Very few observations of this taxon have been recorded.
Stelis coarctatus
Compressed Dark Bee
Stelis coarctatus is a North American species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cuckoo bee that lays eggs in the nests of other bees, typically megachilid hosts. The species was described by Crawford in 1916 and has been recorded from Vermont in the northeastern United States. Like other Stelis species, it lacks pollen-collecting structures and depends entirely on host provisions for its offspring.
Stelis costalis
cuckoo bee
Stelis costalis is a species of cleptoparasitic bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Megachilidae. The species is known from North America and Central America. In 2020, it was documented as a parasite of the giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis, representing the first recorded host association for this species.
Stelis diversicolor
All-black Dark Bee
Stelis diversicolor is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Crawford in 1916. It is found in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this species is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is known from 18 iNaturalist observations and is recognized by the common name 'All-black Dark Bee'.
Stelis interrupta
cuckoo bee
Stelis interrupta is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Cresson in 1879. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is known from North America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Stelis lateralis
Spot-sided Dark Bee
Stelis lateralis is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bees, particularly megachilids. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Two subspecies are recognized: Stelis lateralis lateralis and Stelis lateralis permaculata.
Stelis perpulchra
Stelis perpulchra is a cuckoo bee species in the family Megachilidae, first described by Crawford in 1916. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bees. The species occurs in both Central America and North America.
Stelis rudbeckiarum
Coneflower Painted-Dark bee
Stelis rudbeckiarum is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cockerell in 1904. As a member of the genus Stelis, it is an obligate cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. The species is distributed across North America and Central America. Its specific epithet 'rudbeckiarum' suggests an association with Rudbeckia (coneflowers), likely reflecting host or foraging relationships.
Stelis texana
Stelis texana is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Thorp in 1966. Like other members of the genus Stelis, this species is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, particularly those in the family Megachilidae. The species is known from Texas and adjacent regions in North America. Records indicate presence in Middle America and North America.
Townsendiella
Townsendiella is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, established by Crawford in 1916. The genus contains four described species found in arid regions of western North America. As cleptoparasitic bees, females lay eggs in the nests of other bee species, with their larvae consuming the host's food stores. Townsendiella is the sole genus in the tribe Townsendiellini.
Townsendiella rufiventris
Townsendiella rufiventris is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Linsley in 1942. It belongs to the tribe Townsendiellini within the subfamily Nomadinae. The species has been recorded in the United States and Mexico. As a member of Nomadinae, it is presumed to be a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that lays eggs in the nests of other bees, though specific host relationships remain undocumented.
Tricrania
Tricrania is a genus of Nearctic blister beetles (Meloidae: Nemognathinae) containing at least three described species, including T. sanguinipennis and T. stansburyi. These beetles are obligate cleptoparasites of solitary bees, with highly modified life cycles involving hypermetamorphosis and flightless adults. The genus is notable for its specialized larval stages that exploit bee nest aggregations.
Tricrania stansburyi
Stansbury's Blister Beetle
Tricrania stansburyi is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is a cleptoparasite of solitary bees, specifically known to parasitize the mason bee Osmia lignaria propinqua. The species exhibits hypermetamorphosis, with triungulin larvae attaching to host bees to gain entry to nest cells. It is found in North America and is one of at least two species in the genus Tricrania.
Triepeolus brittaini
Brittain's Cuckoo Nomad Bee
Triepeolus brittaini is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1931. As a member of the cuckoo bee genus Triepeolus, it is known to lay its eggs in the nests of other bee species rather than constructing its own nests or provisioning brood cells. The species is found in North America and is commonly known as Brittain's Cuckoo Nomad Bee.
Triepeolus distinctus
Triepeolus distinctus is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. As a member of the tribe Epeolini, it is a brood parasite of other bees, likely targeting hosts in the family Apidae such as long-horned bees (Eucerini). The species occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain limited in published literature.
Triepeolus donatus
Thistle Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus donatus is a species of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is found in North America, particularly in the eastern United States and Canada. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in wing coloration and antennae length.
Triepeolus eliseae
Elise's Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus eliseae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, described by Rightmyer in 2017. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of other bees rather than constructing its own nests or gathering pollen. The species is known from California and is associated with native bee communities in grassland and prairie habitats. Like other Triepeolus species, it is a specialist parasite of long-horned bees (Melissodes and related genera).
Triepeolus grandis
Great Feather-tongue-Cuckoo
Triepeolus grandis is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. It is a cuckoo bee that parasitizes the ground-nesting bee Caupolicana yarrowi (Colletidae: Diphaglossinae). Females enter host nests during or after host provisioning, destroy host eggs or larvae, and lay their own eggs on the host's pollen provisions. The species occurs in North America and Central America.
Triepeolus grindeliae
cuckoo bee
Triepeolus grindeliae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, described by Cockerell in 1907. As a member of the cleptoparasitic genus Triepeolus, it does not construct its own nests but instead lays eggs in the nests of host bees, typically in the family Apidae. The species is found in North America. The specific epithet "grindeliae" suggests a possible association with plants in the genus Grindelia (gumweeds), which may serve as a nectar source or indicate host bee habitat.
Triepeolus intrepidus
Intrepid Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus intrepidus is a species of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, tribe Epeolini. It is found in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is a nest parasite of other bees, likely targeting long-horned bees (Melissodes and related genera). The species was originally described as Epeolus intrepidus by Smith in 1879.
Triepeolus kathrynae
cuckoo bee
Triepeolus kathrynae is a species of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, tribe Epeolini. The species was described by Rozen in 1989. Like other members of the genus Triepeolus, it is a brood parasite that does not construct nests or gather pollen. It has been recorded from the United States and Mexico.
Triepeolus loomisorum
Triepeolus loomisorum is a cleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Rozen in 1989. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it is a cuckoo bee that does not construct nests or gather pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bees. The species is known from the United States and Mexico.
Triepeolus lunatus
Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee, cuckoo bee
Triepeolus lunatus is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee. It occurs across North America from Canada to northern Mexico, and has been observed in Central America. The species inhabits forest edges and meadows, where it parasitizes nests of host bees. As a member of the simplex species group, females possess a trapezoidal or triangular pseudopygidial area with bright, reflective setae and a concave apical margin.
Triepeolus martini
Triepeolus martini is a cleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1900. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it functions as a cuckoo bee, laying eggs in the nests of host bees. The species has been documented in the United States and Mexico.
Triepeolus matildae
Matilda's Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus matildae is a cleptoparasitic bee species described by Rightmyer in 2014. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it is commonly known as Matilda's Longhorn-Cuckoo. The species is documented from California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. It has been recorded visiting flowers of several plant families including Asteraceae and Polygonaceae. Activity records span from mid-May through late September.
Triepeolus pectoralis
Goldenrod Longhorn-Cuckoo Bee
Triepeolus pectoralis is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is found in North America, with records from Vermont and other regions. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it is a cleptoparasitic bee that lays eggs in the nests of host bees. The species has been documented on flowers including White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida) and Great Valley gumplant (Grindelia camporum).
Triepeolus quadrifasciatus
Four-striped Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus quadrifasciatus is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Four-striped Longhorn-Cuckoo. As a member of the tribe Epeolini, this species is a brood parasite of other bees, specifically targeting hosts in the tribe Eucerini (long-horned bees). The species occurs throughout North America and has been documented visiting flowers of native plants including Dalea candida (White Prairie Clover) and Grindelia camporum (Great Valley gumplant).
Triepeolus remigatus
Squash Longhorn-Cuckoo, cuckoo bee
Triepeolus remigatus is a cleptoparasitic bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Apidae. It parasitizes the nests of squash bees, particularly Xenoglossa pruinosa. Unlike most bees, it does not collect pollen or construct its own nests. The species is found in the United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Triepeolus rufithorax
Florida Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus rufithorax is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it parasitizes nests of long-horned bees (Melissodes and related genera). The species is known from North America, with records particularly from Florida and surrounding regions. Like other Triepeolus species, females enter host nests to lay eggs in brood cells provisioned by the host female.
Triepeolus sarothrinus
Triepeolus sarothrinus is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, originally described as Epeolus sarothrinus by Cockerell in 1929. The species was synonymized under Triepeolus segregatus (Cockerell, 1900) in a 2024 revision of the simplex species group. As a member of the cleptoparasitic genus Triepeolus, females lay eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or gathering pollen. The species belongs to the simplex group, characterized by females having a trapezoidal or triangular pseudopygidial area with bright, reflective setae and a concave apical margin.
Triepeolus simplex
cuckoo bee
Triepeolus simplex is a cleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae, described by Robertson in 1903. It belongs to the simplex species group, characterized by females possessing a trapezoidal or triangular pseudopygidial area with bright, reflective setae and a concave apical margin. As a cuckoo bee, it does not construct nests or collect pollen but instead parasitizes the nests of other bee species. The species occurs in North America and is part of an entirely New World group of Triepeolus species.
Triepeolus utahensis
Utah Longhorn-Cuckoo
Triepeolus utahensis is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1921. As a member of the genus Triepeolus, it is a cuckoo bee that parasitizes nests of digger bees (Anthophorini). The species is native to western North America, with the specific epithet 'utahensis' indicating its association with Utah. Like other Triepeolus species, it lacks pollen-collecting structures and relies entirely on host nests for larval provisioning.
Triepeolus verbesinae
cuckoo bee
Triepeolus verbesinae is a cleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae. As a cuckoo bee, females lay eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or provisioning brood cells. The species is distributed across the United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Triepeolus, it is associated with pollen-collecting host bees, though the specific host species for T. verbesinae has not been definitively documented.
Triopasites
Triopasites is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae, and tribe Brachynomadini. The genus was described by Linsley in 1939 and contains at least two described species: T. penniger (Cockerell, 1894) and T. spinifera (Rozen, 1997). As cleptoparasitic bees, species in this genus do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees.
Triopasites penniger
Triopasites penniger is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. Like other members of the genus, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of host bees. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It belongs to the tribe Brachynomadini, a group of small, often inconspicuous cuckoo bees.
Zanysson
Zanysson is a strictly New World genus of digger wasps in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. The genus was established by Rohwer in 1921 and remained taxonomically stagnant for over 80 years until the description of Z. gemmatus from Colombia in 2007. Members are assumed to be cleptoparasites of other crabronid wasps, though direct biological observations are lacking for most species. The genus includes at least three described species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico to northwestern South America.