Parasitic-bee
Guides
Biastini
Biastini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the subfamily Nomadinae (family Apidae). Members are obligate cleptoparasites that exploit the nests of solitary bees, particularly oligolectic hosts. The tribe has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with recent phylogenomic studies establishing that Biastini is paraphyletic and should be synonymized under an expanded concept of Neolarrini. The tribe includes the enigmatic genus Schwarzia, which exhibits unusual morphological features and represents a transitional lineage.
Bombus flavidus
Yellowish Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus flavidus is a widespread Holarctic cuckoo bumble bee and one of the most broadly distributed bumble bee species globally. As a social parasite, it invades colonies of other bumble bee species rather than building its own nests. Recent taxonomic research has clarified its status, synonymizing the former North American Bombus fernaldae with B. flavidus while recognizing an eastern North American subspecies, B. flavidus appalachiensis.
Brachymelecta
Brachymelecta is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, established by Linsley in 1939. The genus was formerly known as Xeromelecta until 2021. These bees are cleptoparasites, meaning they lay eggs in the nests of other bees and rely on host provisions to rear their young. The genus includes six recognized species distributed primarily in North America and the Caribbean.
Coelioxys dolichos
carpenter-mimic cuckoo leaf-cutter bee
Coelioxys dolichos is a species of kleptoparasitic bee in the family Megachilidae. It is known to parasitize nests of the leaf-cutter bee Megachile xylocopoides. The species occurs in North America.
Coelioxys texanus
Coelioxys texanus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Megachilidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. As a member of the genus Coelioxys, this species is a cleptoparasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily targeting leafcutter bees (Megachile species). The specific epithet "texanus" indicates a Texas association, likely reflecting the type locality or early collection records from that region. Like other Coelioxys species, females possess a pointed, conical abdomen adapted for inserting eggs into host nest cells.
Dioxyini
cuckoo bees
Dioxyini is a tribe of kleptoparasitic cuckoo bees in the family Megachilidae, comprising eight genera and approximately 36 species globally. European representatives include ten species across five genera (Aglaoapis, Dioxys, Ensliniana, Metadioxys, Paradioxys), with two species widespread across the continent and others restricted to southern Europe. These bees do not construct nests or collect pollen, instead exploiting the nest provisions of host bees.
Epeolus carolinus
Carolina Cellophane-cuckoo Bee
Epeolus carolinus is a species of cuckoo bee in the family Apidae, first described by Mitchell in 1962. As a cleptoparasitic bee, it lays eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is native to North America and is one of approximately 43 recognized Epeolus species on the continent. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with polyester bees (Colletes) as hosts.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Zacosmia maculata
Spotted Mini-digger-Cuckoo
Zacosmia maculata is a species of kleptoparasitic bee in the family Apidae, tribe Melectini. As a cuckoo bee, females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they lay eggs in the nests of host bees, primarily species of Hesperapis. The species occurs in western North America and parts of Middle America.