Genus Nomada
When trying to identify this insect that was pollinating at Pineview Reservoir, I was certain it
was a wasp and not a bee. Bugguide helped me discover that it is indeed a Cuckoo Bee. I love
the eyes. © Carol Davis, 7-10-2011
Like the Cuckoo birds who lay their eggs in other birds' nests for them to hatch and raise, female
Cuckoo bees enter the nests of other bees when the host is absent and lay their eggs into the
egg cell walls. © Carol Davis, 7-10-2011
I refer to this bee as the Mustache Cuckoo Bee because of the face on the thorax with the two
large "eyes" and "mustache". If you imagine the wings as "ears", the Cuckoo Bee really
takes on a weird appearance (especially with that gaudy striped shirt!) © Carol Davis, 7-10-2011
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