Nomada Cuckoo Bee vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Nomada Cuckoo Bee | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nomada marshamella | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 9-12mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Mimics a wasp in appearance and behavior to avoid detection while sneaking into the nests of mining bees.
Slave-Making Ant
A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.
Did You Know?
Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.