Ground-nesting-bee-parasite
Guides
Argochrysis inornata
Argochrysis inornata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Members of the genus Argochrysis are kleptoparasites that target ground-nesting bees, particularly in the family Anthophoridae. The specific name "inornata" (Latin for "unadorned" or "plain") suggests relatively simple coloration compared to the metallic brilliance typical of many chrysidids.
Chrysanthrax vanus
Chrysanthrax vanus is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae. Adults are pollinators that visit flowers for nectar, while larvae are parasitoids of ground-nesting bees. The species ranges from British Columbia through the western United States to Mexico.
Epeolus compactus
Compact Cellophane-Cuckoo
Epeolus compactus is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the family Apidae. It is a specialized nest parasite of Colletes kincaidii, a ground-nesting polyester bee. The species occurs in North America and Mexico. Females enter host nests during the provisioning phase to lay eggs on pollen masses, and the resulting larvae consume both the host egg and its pollen provision.
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.
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.