Cuckoo-bee
Guides
Epeolus howardi
Howard's Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus howardi, commonly known as Howard's cellophane-cuckoo bee, is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it is a nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bees rather than constructing its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is known from North America and was described by Mitchell in 1962.
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.
Epeolus lectoides
Sumac Cellophane-Cuckoo, cuckoo bee
Epeolus lectoides is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bees rather than building its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is found in North America and has been documented using Colletes latitarsis and Colletes nudus as hosts.
Epeolus mesillae
Mesilla Cellophane Bee
Epeolus mesillae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1895. As a kleptoparasite, it invades the nests of host bees to lay its eggs, with its offspring consuming the host's provisions. The species is recorded from North America and Middle America. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees and instead exhibits color patterns of short black, white, red, and yellow hairs.
Epeolus minimus
Least Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus minimus is a small cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, commonly known as the Least Cellophane-cuckoo Bee. As a member of the cuckoo bee genus Epeolus, it invades the nests of host bees to lay its eggs, relying on host-collected pollen provisions rather than gathering its own. The species is native to North America and has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees, giving it a wasp-like appearance.
Epeolus olympiellus
Olympia Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus olympiellus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae. Like other members of its genus, it invades the nests of polyester bees (genus Colletes) to lay its eggs, with the resulting larvae killing the host's offspring and consuming the stored pollen. The species is found in North America and was described by Cockerell in 1904.
Epeolus pusillus
Dwarf Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus pusillus is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. The species is a specialized nest parasite of two cellophane bee species in the genus Colletes: C. compactus and C. ciliatoides. As a cuckoo bee, females lay eggs in host nests where their larvae kill the host egg or larva and consume the pollen provisions. The species is known from the United States and Mexico.
Epeolus scutellaris
red-chested cuckoo nomad bee, Notch-backed Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus scutellaris is a cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae. As a cuckoo bee, it does not construct nests or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bees. The species occurs in North America and Mexico. It is one of approximately 43 Epeolus species recognized in North America.
Epeolus splendidus
Splendid Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus splendidus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee species described by Onuferko in 2018. As a member of the genus Epeolus, it invades the nests of polyester bees in the genus Colletes, where females lay eggs that hatch into larvae that kill the host egg or larva and consume the stored pollen. The species name 'splendidus' refers to its attractive appearance, characterized by short black, white, red, and yellow hairs forming distinctive patterns. Like other Epeolus species, it lacks the branched hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees due to its parasitic lifestyle.
Epeolus zonatus
Zoned Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus zonatus is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Smith in 1854. As a cleptoparasite, it lays eggs in the nests of host bees rather than building its own. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain limited in the available literature.
Ericrocidini
cuckoo bees
Ericrocidini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bees within the family Apidae, containing 11 genera and approximately 42 species distributed throughout the Neotropics. These bees are obligate parasites of oil-collecting bees, primarily attacking nests of Centris (Centridini) and, in one derived case, Epicharis. Females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they invade host nests, kill host eggs or larvae, and deposit their eggs in provisioned brood cells. The tribe diverged from related lineages approximately 74 million years ago in the Cretaceous, with host specialization evolving synchronously with their Centris and Epicharis hosts during the Eocene.
Ericrocis
Ericrocis is a genus of kleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as centris-cuckoo bees. The genus comprises at least four described species distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As cuckoo bees, Ericrocis species do not construct their own nests but instead lay eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily in the genus Centris. The genus was established by Cresson in 1887 and belongs to the tribe Ericrocidini.
Ericrocis pintada
Painted Oil-digger-Cuckoo
Ericrocis pintada is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, tribe Ericrocidini. It is commonly known as the Painted Oil-digger-Cuckoo. The species is native to Central America and North America. Like other members of its tribe, it is presumed to be a nest parasite of oil-collecting bees in the genus Centris, though specific host records for this species are limited.
Hexepeolini
Hexepeolini is a monotypic tribe of cuckoo bees within the subfamily Nomadinae (family Apidae). The tribe contains a single genus, Hexepeolus, which in turn contains only one species, Hexepeolus rhodogyne. As cuckoo bees, members of this tribe are brood parasites that do not construct nests or collect pollen. The extreme rarity of this tribe—represented by only two observations on iNaturalist—reflects its narrow geographic distribution and specialized ecological requirements.
Hexepeolus
Hexepeolus is a monotypic genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, established by Linsley and Michener in 1937. It represents the sole genus within the tribe Hexepeolini and contains only one described species, Hexepeolus rhodogyne. As a member of the subfamily Nomadinae, these bees exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of other bee species. The genus is rarely encountered, with minimal observational records.
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.
Holcopasites minimus
Tiny Furrowed-Cuckoo
Holcopasites minimus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Linsley in 1943. It belongs to the subfamily Nomadinae, a group of kleptoparasitic bees that lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species. The species occurs across a broad geographic range from Mexico to Canada. Like other members of the genus Holcopasites, it is presumed to be a nest parasite of ground-nesting bees, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Holcopasites stevensi
Stevens's Cuckoo Nomad Bee
Holcopasites stevensi is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is found from Mexico to Canada.
Leiopodus singularis
Singular Turret-Cuckoo
Leiopodus singularis is a kleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae. It is a specialized brood parasite that targets the nests of Diadasia olivacea, a host bee species. The species exhibits distinctive behavioral adaptations for nest infiltration, including prolonged perching outside host nests and multiple brief inspection visits before oviposition. Its life cycle involves direct larval combat where the first instar kills the much larger host larva.
Melecta
Mourning Bees, Cuckoo Bees
Melecta is a genus of kleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as mourning bees. The genus contains at least 50 described species. Females are cleptoparasites that enter host bee nests to lay eggs, with their larvae consuming the pollen and nectar provisions intended for the host's offspring.
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
centris-cuckoos, cuckoo bees
Mesoplia is a genus of cleptoparasitic bees in the family Apidae, tribe Ericrocidini. Commonly known as centris-cuckoos, these bees are brood parasites that lay eggs in the nests of oil-collecting bees in the tribe Centridini. The genus contains approximately 15–17 described species distributed across the Neotropical region, with the highest diversity in Mexico and Central America.
Neolarra
Neolarra is a genus of minute cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, containing approximately 16 described species restricted to North America. These bees are kleptoparasites that target nests of Perdita bees, laying eggs that hatch into larvae that consume the host's provisions and offspring. Adults are exceptionally small, measuring less than a grain of rice. The genus was first described in 1890 by Ashmead, who initially misclassified it as a wasp genus.
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.
Neolarra vigilans
Neolarra vigilans is a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. The species is known for its parasitic lifestyle, infiltrating the nests of host bees to lay its eggs. Its geographic range extends from northern Mexico to southern Canada, with a notable northward range extension documented in Oregon.
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 cressoni
Neopasites cressoni is a kleptoparasitic (cuckoo) bee in the family Apidae, tribe Biastini. It is native to North America and targets hosts in the genus Hesperapis, a group of ground-nesting bees. Like other members of the Nomadinae subfamily, females lack pollen-collecting structures and rely entirely on host nests for reproduction. The species was described by Crawford in 1916.
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
Nomad Bees, Cuckoo Bees
Nomada is one of the largest genera in the family Apidae, with over 850 species worldwide. These bees are kleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily ground-nesting species in the genus Andrena. Adult bees lack pollen-carrying scopa and are mostly hairless, feeding on nectar but not collecting pollen for offspring. The genus name derives from the Greek word for 'roaming' or 'wandering,' reflecting their parasitic lifestyle.
Nomada affabilis
nomad bee
Nomada affabilis is a species of kleptoparasitic nomad bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1878. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic cuckoo bee lifestyle of laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than building its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is distributed across North America and comprises two recognized subspecies: Nomada affabilis affabilis and Nomada affabilis dallasensis. Like other nomad bees, females likely locate host nests using chemical cues and possess reduced scopal structures for pollen collection.
Nomada armatella
Yellow-backed Nomad
Nomada armatella is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1903. 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 has been documented in North America, with confirmed records from Vermont, United States. Like other Nomada species, it likely targets specific host bees, though detailed host associations for this particular species remain poorly documented.
Nomada articulata
Articulated Nomad
Nomada articulata is a species of nomad bee in the family Apidae, first described by Smith in 1854. It is a kleptoparasitic species found in North America, specifically known to parasitize nests of the sweat bee Agapostemon sericeus. Like other Nomada species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees and relies entirely on host bees to provision its offspring.
Nomada bella
Belle Nomad Bee
Nomada bella is a cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1863. As a kleptoparasite, females lay eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing their own nests or collecting pollen. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from Vermont and other regions. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic wasp-like appearance of cuckoo bees, lacking the dense branched hairs used for pollen collection that are typical of non-parasitic bees.
Nomada besseyi
Bessey's Nomad Bee
Nomada besseyi is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Swenk in 1913. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of host bee species, particularly mining bees in the genus Andrena. The species is native to North America and exhibits the characteristic wasp-like appearance typical of nomad bees, lacking the branched body hairs used for pollen collection by non-parasitic bees.
Nomada bethunei
Bethune's Cuckoo Nomad Bee
Nomada bethunei is a species of kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1903. As a member of the genus Nomada, it is an obligate nest parasite that lays eggs in the nests of host bee species, primarily Andrena mining bees. The species is found in North America, with records from Vermont and other regions. Like other Nomada species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees and instead relies on host bees to provision its offspring.
Nomada cressonii
Cresson's Nomad Bee
Nomada cressonii is a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee species in the family Apidae, native to North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic behavior of laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nest or collecting pollen. The species is named after entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson. Like other nomad bees, females likely locate host nests using chemical cues and possess reduced body hair compared to pollen-collecting bees.
Nomada crotchii
Crotch's Nomad
Nomada crotchii is a species of nomad bee (kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee) in the family Apidae. It occurs in North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it is presumed to be a nest parasite of other bees, though specific host relationships have not been documented for this species. The species was described by Cresson in 1878 and has two recognized subspecies: N. c. crotchii and N. c. nigrior.
Nomada cuneata
Cuneate Nomad Bee
Nomada cuneata is a kleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae, native to North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic cuckoo bee behavior of laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nests or provisioning young. The species is recorded from Vermont and other parts of North America. Like other Nomada species, it likely targets specific host bees, though detailed host associations for this particular species remain poorly documented.
Nomada denticulata
Denticulate Nomad
Nomada denticulata is a species of nomad bee in the family Apidae. It is found in North America. As a member of the genus Nomada, it is a kleptoparasitic cuckoo bee that lays eggs in the nests of other bee species rather than building its own nest or collecting pollen.
Nomada edwardsii
Edwards' Nomad
Nomada edwardsii is a species of nomad bee in the family Apidae. It is a kleptoparasitic bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other bee species. The species is found in Central America and North America, with two recognized subspecies: Nomada edwardsii edwardsii and Nomada edwardsii vinnula.
Nomada electa
nomad bee, cuckoo bee
Nomada electa is a species of kleptoparasitic nomad bee in the family Apidae, found in North America. As a cuckoo bee, it does not build its own nests or collect pollen, instead laying eggs in the nests of host bee species. The species was described by Cresson in 1863.
Nomada erigeronis
Nomada erigeronis is a species of nomad bee (cuckoo bee) in the family Apidae, first described by Robertson in 1897. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it is a kleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bee species, particularly mining bees in the genus Andrena. The species is found in North America and is one of many Nomada species that exploit the nesting efforts of host bees rather than constructing their own nests or collecting pollen.
Nomada fervida
Fervid Nomad Bee
Nomada fervida is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, found in North America. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of host bee species. The species was first described by Smith in 1854. As a nest parasite, it relies on host bees to provision its offspring with pollen and nectar.
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 gutierreziae
Nomada gutierreziae is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1896. 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 Middle and North America. Like other Nomada species, females likely locate host nests using chemical cues. Males of the genus have been observed to engage in "antennal grabbing" during copulation, a behavior involving the winding of antennae around the female's antennae to transfer pheromones, though this specific behavior has not been directly documented for N. gutierreziae.