Solitary-bee-parasite
Guides
Bombylius anthophilus
Bombylius anthophilus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. The species has been documented in association with the nests and pupal casings of Habropoda depressa bees, indicating a parasitic relationship with this host. Like other members of the genus Bombylius, it likely exhibits the characteristic hovering flight behavior and elongated proboscis typical of bee flies. The species was described by Evenhuis in 1983.
Bombylius atriceps
Bombylius atriceps is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Loew in 1863. The genus Bombylius is characterized by adults that are typically active in spring, with members of this tribe exhibiting hovering behavior and elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding. Larval stages of Bombylius species are known to be parasitoids of solitary bees, with females depositing eggs near or into host burrows.
Bombylius breviabdominalis
Bombylius breviabdominalis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Evenhuis in 1977. As a member of the genus Bombylius, it belongs to a group of flies known for their bee-like appearance and parasitic larval life history. The species epithet "breviabdominalis" refers to its relatively short abdomen. Information specific to this species is limited, though it shares general characteristics with other Bombylius species including a furry body, long proboscis for nectar feeding, and parasitic larvae that develop in the nests of solitary bees.
Bombylius curtirhynchus
Bombylius curtirhynchus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Evenhuis in 1978. The genus Bombylius comprises approximately 350 species distributed across the Holarctic region, with many species exhibiting the characteristic fuzzy appearance and hovering flight behavior typical of bee flies. Species in this genus are generally spring-active and possess elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding.
Bombylius incanus
bee fly
Bombylius incanus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Johnson in 1907. The genus Bombylius is one of the most recognizable bee fly genera, with adults typically active in spring and characterized by their fuzzy, bee-like appearance and hovering flight behavior. Like other members of the genus, B. incanus likely exhibits the "bombing" egg-laying behavior where females flick eggs into host burrows. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Bombylius lancifer
Bombylius lancifer is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) found in western North America. Bee flies in this genus are typically active in spring and are known for their bee-like appearance, hovering flight behavior, and parasitic larval life history. Adults visit flowers for nectar, while larvae develop as parasites in the nests of solitary bees.
Bombylius pulchellus
Beautiful Bee Fly
Bombylius pulchellus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, distributed across northern North America from Canada to the northern United States. Adults are active in spring and are known for their parasitoid relationship with the sweat bee Halictus ligatus, whose larvae and pupae they consume. Unlike many bee flies, B. pulchellus pupates in soil away from the host nest rather than within it.
Bombylius varius
Bombylius varius is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Fabricius in 1805. Like other members of the genus Bombylius, it is likely a parasitoid of solitary bee larvae, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The species is recognized as valid in current taxonomic databases, though detailed biological studies appear limited in the available literature.
Chrysura kyrae
Chrysura kyrae is a parasitoid wasp in the family Chrysididae. It has been documented as a parasitoid of Osmia lignaria subsp. lignaria, a mason bee in the family Megachilidae. The species belongs to a genus of cuckoo wasps known for their metallic coloration and kleptoparasitic or parasitoid lifestyles targeting solitary bees and wasps.
Conophorini
bee flies
Conophorini is a tribe of bee flies within the family Bombyliidae, established by Becker in 1913. The tribe comprises at least 30 described species distributed across four genera: Aldrichia, Conophorina, Conophorus, and Sparnopolius. Members of this tribe are parasitoid flies whose larvae develop in the nests of solitary bees and wasps. Conophorini species are found primarily in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions.
Elampini
Elampini is a tribe of cuckoo wasps within the family Chrysididae, comprising approximately 12 genera including Elampus, Hedychrum, and Holopyga. Members are kleptoparasitic wasps that lay eggs in the nests of other hymenopterans, particularly solitary bees and wasps. The tribe is distinguished by morphological features of the metasoma and male genitalia. Elampini species are found across the Holarctic region with highest diversity in the Palearctic.
Ephialtes
Ephialtes is a genus of ichneumonid wasps (family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae, tribe Ephialtini) established by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus includes species that are ectoparasitoids of solitary aculeate Hymenoptera, with females possessing notably long ovipositors adapted for accessing host nests. Ephialtes manifestator, the type species and best-documented member, has been subject to genome sequencing and ecological study. The genus is distributed across Europe and has been recorded in North America.
Gasteruptiidae
Carrot Wasps
Gasteruptiidae is a family of apocritan wasps comprising approximately 500 species in two subfamilies (Gasteruptiinae and Hyptiogastrinae) and six extant genera worldwide. Members are commonly known as "carrot wasps" due to their slender, elongated bodies and frequent association with umbelliferous flowers. The family is characterized by a pronounced elongated "neck" (propleura) between the head and thorax, a petiole attached high on the propodeum, and notably swollen, club-like hind tibiae. These wasps are parasitoids or predator-inquilines of solitary bees and wasps, with females using their long ovipositors to deposit eggs in host nests.
Gasteruption
carrot wasps
Gasteruption is a genus of parasitoid wasps commonly known as "carrot wasps" due to their slender, elongated bodies and frequent association with umbelliferous flowers. The genus comprises approximately 64 species worldwide, with 21 species recorded in Central Europe and at least 15 in North America. Adults are characterized by a pronounced "neck" between the head and thorax, an abdomen attached high on the thorax, and enlarged hind tibiae that function in flight dynamics and vibrational sensing. Females possess long ovipositors for accessing host nests. Larvae are predator-inquilines in the nests of solitary bees and wasps.
Gasteruption assectator
wild carrot wasp
Gasteruption assectator, commonly known as the wild carrot wasp, is a species of carrot wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae. It is a generalist inquiline parasitoid that targets multiple bee and wasp species including Hylaeus confusus, Hylaeus pectoralis, and Pemphredon fabricii. The species exhibits the distinctive elongated neck and enlarged hind tibiae characteristic of its family. Adults are frequently observed at flowers, particularly umbelliferous blooms.
Gasteruption floridanum
Carrot Wasp
Gasteruption floridanum is a species of carrot wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, found in Florida and the eastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it possesses the family's characteristic slender body, pronounced neck between head and thorax, and enlarged hind tibiae. The species is a parasitoid of solitary bees and wasps that nest in twigs or wood borings. Females use their long ovipositors to reach host larvae deep in tunnels, where they deposit eggs that develop into larvae feeding on the host's stored provisions.
Gasteruption kaweahense
Gasteruption kaweahense is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, commonly known as carrot wasps. Like congeners, it possesses the family's distinctive enlarged hind tibiae and elongated neck. The species is known from limited observations. As with other gasteruptiids, females likely parasitize larvae of solitary bees by depositing eggs into host nests using a long ovipositor.
Gasteruption kirbii
Gasteruption kirbii is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, commonly known as "carrot wasps." Members of this genus are characterized by an elongated neck between the head and thorax, a high abdominal attachment point, and notably enlarged hind tibiae. The species is one of at least fifteen Gasteruption species in North America, with five occurring in the eastern United States and Canada. Like other gasteruptiids, it is presumed to parasitize larvae of solitary bees nesting in twigs or wood borings.
Gasteruption tarsatorium
Carrot Wasp
Gasteruption tarsatorium is a species of carrot wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae. It is characterized by an extremely slender body, elongated neck, and enlarged hind tibiae that function in flight dynamics and vibrational sensing. The species is a parasitoid of solitary bees and wasps that nest in twigs or wood borings. Females possess a long ovipositor to access host nests.
Gasteruption visaliae
Carrot Wasp
Gasteruption visaliae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Gasteruptiidae, commonly known as carrot wasps. The species exhibits the distinctive family traits of an elongated neck, slender body, and enlarged hind tibiae. Like other gasteruptiids, it is presumed to parasitize solitary bees and wasps nesting in twigs or wood borings, though specific host records for this species remain limited. Females possess a long ovipositor for accessing host nests.
Heterostylum
bee-flies
Heterostylum is a genus of bee-flies (Bombyliidae) comprising 14 described species distributed throughout the Americas. These robust, densely hairy flies measure 10–15 mm in body length. The genus is distinguished by diagnostic morphological features including an indentation in the hind margin of the eye and distinctive wing venation patterns. Larvae are parasitoids that develop within the nests of mining bees.
Labeninae
Labeninae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae, comprising 12 extant genera organized into four tribes: Labenini, Groteini, Poecilocryptini, and Xenothyrini. The group has a predominantly Southern Hemisphere distribution, with phylogenomic and biogeographic analyses supporting a Gondwanan origin approximately 146 million years ago. Members exhibit diverse host associations: Labenini parasitize wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae), Groteini specialize on solitary bees, and Poecilocryptini may include phytophagous species based on larval morphology. The subfamily represents an ancient lineage with complex biogeographic history involving vicariance and range expansion events.
Leucospidae
leucospid wasps
Leucospidae are a specialized family of parasitic wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, distinguished by their relatively large size compared to other chalcidoids. They are ectoparasitoids of solitary bees and wasps, with females laying eggs in host nests where larvae attach externally to developing host larvae. The family exhibits distinctive morphological features including enlarged, toothed hind femora and a uniquely recurved ovipositor that extends dorsally along the abdomen in females.
Leucospis
Leucospis is a genus of large chalcidoid wasps in the family Leucospidae. Adults are typically 2–14 mm long with distinctive yellow and black coloration that resembles mason wasps. Females possess a uniquely curved ovipositor that arches over the back, used to drill into wood and reach host larvae in sealed cells. Larvae develop as ectoparasites on solitary bees and wasps, with typically only one parasite emerging per host cell. The genus has a global distribution in tropical and temperate regions.
Leucospis affinis
Leucospis affinis is a large chalcidoid wasp and the most common and widespread North American species in the family Leucospidae. Females are easily recognized by their whip-like ovipositor that curls over the dorsal surface of the abdomen, which they use to drill through wood and deposit eggs in the nests of solitary bees. The species is an external parasite (ectoparasitoid) primarily of megachilid bees including leafcutter bees (Megachile), mason bees (Osmia), and resin bees (Dianthidium), though it has also been recorded from the mason wasp Ancistrocerus antilope.
Leucospis affinis affinis
Leucospis affinis affinis is a chalcidoid wasp in the family Leucospidae, notable for being among the largest members of its superfamily. Females are distinguished by an ovipositor that curves over the dorsal abdomen, used to drill into wood and parasitize solitary bees nesting in pre-existing cavities. The subspecies is primarily a parasite of megachilid bees including leafcutter bees (Megachile), mason bees (Osmia), and resin bees (Dianthidium). Larvae develop as external parasites attached to host bee larvae, completing development in approximately 7–12 days before pupating within the host's cocoon.
Leucospis affinis floridana
Leucospis affinis floridana is a subspecies of chalcidoid wasp in the family Leucospidae. As a member of this family, it is notably large compared to typical chalcid wasps and possesses distinctive morphological adaptations for parasitism. The species is a parasitoid of solitary bees, particularly megachilid bees including mason bees and leafcutter bees. Females use a specialized ovipositor that curves over the abdomen to drill through wood and deposit eggs in host nests.
Leucospis birkmani
Leucospis birkmani is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Leucospidae, a group notable for being unusually large among chalcidoid wasps. Like other leucospids, it is an external parasite of solitary bees and wasps. The female possesses a distinctive whip-like ovipositor that curves over the top of the abdomen, which she uses to drill through wood and deposit eggs in host nests. The species occurs in the southern United States including Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
Leucospis robertsoni
Leucospis robertsoni is a parasitic wasp in the family Leucospidae, a group of relatively large chalcidoid wasps often mistaken for mason or potter wasps due to their black and yellow markings. Like other leucospids, females possess a distinctive ovipositor that curls over the top of the abdomen, which they use to drill into wood and deposit eggs in the nests of solitary bees and wasps. The species is recorded from the southeastern United States and Mexico.
Leucospis slossonae
Leucospis slossonae is a parasitic wasp in the family Leucospidae, a group of unusually large chalcidoid wasps. Like other leucospids, females possess a distinctive whip-like ovipositor that curls over the top of the abdomen, used to drill into wood and deposit eggs in the nests of solitary bees. The species is known from the southeastern United States.
Macronychia
satellite flies
Macronychia is a genus of satellite flies in the family Sarcophagidae, first described by Rondani in 1859. The genus comprises at least 20 described species. These flies are kleptoparasitic, meaning they exploit the food resources or nesting provisions of other organisms rather than collecting their own. They are associated with solitary bees and wasps, where they lay eggs in or near host nests.
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.
Meloe dugesi
Meloe dugesi is a species of blister beetle (family Meloidae) described by Champion in 1891. It belongs to the genus Meloe, commonly known as oil beetles, which are characterized by their defensive production of cantharidins. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the typical Meloe life cycle involving triungulin larvae that parasitize solitary bees.
Meloe impressus
blister beetle, oil beetle
Meloe impressus is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to North America. It belongs to a genus commonly known as oil beetles, characterized by their defensive secretion of cantharidin, a potent blistering agent. The species is recorded across western and central Canada and the United States. Like other Meloe species, it likely exhibits the complex life history involving parasitic larvae that exploit solitary bees as hosts, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
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 maculata
Spotted Nomad Bee
Nomada maculata, the Spotted Nomad Bee, is a kleptoparasitic bee species in the family Apidae. Like other members of the genus Nomada, it does not construct its own nest but instead lays eggs in the nests of host bee species, primarily ground-nesting bees in the genus Andrena. The species is found in North America, with documented records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a cuckoo bee, females enter host nests to deposit eggs, and the resulting larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and may destroy the host egg or larva.
Nomadinae
cuckoo bees, nomad and related cuckoo bees
Nomadinae is a subfamily of bees in the family Apidae, commonly known as cuckoo bees. All members are obligate kleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other bee species. They lack pollen-carrying structures and often exhibit wasp-like morphology. The subfamily is cosmopolitan, with diverse host associations across multiple bee families. Females enter host nests when unoccupied and deposit eggs into host cell walls; emerging larvae kill the host offspring and consume the stored provisions.
Sapyga
Sapyga is a genus of sapygid wasps comprising at least 19 described species. Species in this genus are cleptoparasites (kleptoparasites) of solitary bees, particularly megachilid bees. They enter host nests to lay eggs in unfinished or provisioned cells, with their larvae consuming host provisions and killing host larvae. The genus exhibits specialized parasitic adaptations including the ability to oviposit through cell closures.
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.