Squash Bee vs Painted Nomad Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Squash Bee | Painted Nomad Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Peponapis pruinosa | Nomada fucata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Size | 12-14 mm | 8-10mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | North America, Central America | Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Squash Bee
A solitary ground-nesting bee that specializes exclusively in pollinating squash, pumpkin, and gourd flowers. It begins foraging before dawn when cucurbit flowers first open.
Did You Know?
Males often sleep inside closed squash blossoms at night, occasionally getting trapped when the flower wilts.
Painted Nomad Bee
A bright yellow and black cuckoo bee that parasitizes the nests of Andrena mining bees.
Did You Know?
Sneaks into mining bee nests while the host is away foraging and lays eggs that will outcompete the host's larva.