Cleptoparasitic-bee
Guides
Epeolus interruptus
Interrupted Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus interruptus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae, native to North America. First described by Robertson in 1900, this species invades the nests of polyester bees (genus Colletes) to lay its eggs. Like other cuckoo bees, females lack the branched body hairs used for pollen collection and instead rely on host bees to provision their offspring. The species exhibits reduced pilosity compared to non-parasitic bees, giving it a wasp-like appearance.
Leiopodus
Leiopodus is a genus of cleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae, representing the sole genus of the tribe Protepeolini. The genus contains five described species distributed in the Americas. These bees exhibit unusual larval biology, including extended quiescence of the first instar and delayed killing of host larvae. The genus has been subject to limited study, with most detailed information coming from research on larval morphology and behavior.
Nomada vicina
Neighborly Nomad
Nomada vicina is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1863. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nests. The species is known from North America with confirmed records from Vermont and other regions. Like other Nomada species, it likely targets nests of mining bees in the genus Andrena. The common name "Neighborly Nomad" reflects both its parasitic lifestyle and its taxonomic proximity to related species.
Stelis australis
Stelis australis is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae, described by Cresson in 1878. As a member of the genus Stelis, this species is a nest parasite of other solitary bees, particularly those in the family Megachilidae. The specific epithet 'australis' suggests a southern distribution, though detailed biological information remains limited. Like other Stelis species, females likely enter host nests to lay eggs in provisioned cells, with larvae consuming the host's pollen stores and sometimes the host egg or larva.
Triepeolus mexicanus
cuckoo bee
Triepeolus mexicanus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae, subfamily Nomadinae. It belongs to the simplex species group of the genus Triepeolus, characterized by females having a trapezoidal or triangular pseudopygidial area with bright, reflective setae and a concave apical margin. The species is found in Central America and North America.