Nomada Cuckoo Bee vs Lythrum Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Nomada Cuckoo Bee | Lythrum Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nomada marshamella | Melitta nigricans |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 9-12mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Nomada Cuckoo Bee
A wasp-like cuckoo bee with red and black markings that sneaks into andrena bee nests to lay its eggs.
Did You Know?
Mimics a wasp in appearance and behavior to avoid detection while sneaking into the nests of mining bees.
Lythrum Bee
A specialist bee that collects pollen from purple loosestrife along rivers and wetland margins. It is a ground-nesting species found in damp habitats.
Did You Know?
It times its emergence precisely to the flowering of purple loosestrife in July, and in years of drought it may fail to reproduce entirely.