Nomada Cuckoo Bee vs Dark-edged Bee-fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nomada Cuckoo Bee Dark-edged Bee-fly
Scientific Name Nomada marshamella Bombylius major discolor
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Apidae Bombyliidae
Size 9-12mm 8-12mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Parasitoids Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nomada Cuckoo Bee

A wasp-like cuckoo bee with red and black markings that sneaks into andrena bee nests to lay its eggs.

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Did You Know?

Mimics a wasp in appearance and behavior to avoid detection while sneaking into the nests of mining bees.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.