Nomadinae

Nomadinae is a large subfamily of kleptoparasitic bees within the family Apidae. These bees are commonly known as cuckoo bees because, like cuckoo birds, they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees. They are found globally, with a high diversity of species across various continents.

Characteristics:

• Kleptoparasitic Behavior: Nomadinae bees do not construct their own nests or collect pollen. Instead, the female bee enters the nest of a host bee (typically a species within the Andrenidae family, but other families can also be hosts) and lays her egg. The larva of the Nomadinae bee then consumes the host larva's provisions (pollen and nectar), and sometimes also the host larva itself.

• Morphology: Nomadinae bees typically lack pollen-collecting structures, such as the scopa (pollen-collecting hairs) found on the legs or abdomen of most other bee species. They often have a wasp-like appearance, with a relatively bare body and reduced hair. Their coloration varies, but they are often brightly colored with patterns of red, yellow, black, or white. The shape of the metasoma (abdomen) is often conical.

• Host Specificity: Some Nomadinae species are highly specialized, parasitizing only one or a few closely related host species, while others are more generalist and can parasitize a broader range of hosts.

• Mandibles: The mandibles of female Nomadinae bees are often adapted for penetrating the host's cell or egg, or for fighting with the host larva.

Genera:

The Nomadinae subfamily comprises numerous genera, including but not limited to:

• Nomada (the largest and most well-known genus)
• Hesperonomada
• Neopasites
• Sphecodopsis
• Triopasites
• Crocisaspidia

Life Cycle:

The life cycle of a Nomadinae bee begins with the female bee locating a suitable host nest. She enters the nest and lays her egg near or within a host cell containing the provisions gathered by the host bee. The Nomadinae larva hatches and consumes the host's food supply, often killing the host larva in the process. The Nomadinae larva then pupates within the host cell, and eventually emerges as an adult bee.

Ecological Importance:

Nomadinae bees play a role in regulating the populations of their host bees. Their presence can influence the abundance and distribution of host species, and can also impact plant pollination indirectly by affecting the reproductive success of their hosts.