Cuckoo Bee Facts
- Cuckoo Bee serves as the name collectively used to refer to any of a variety of bees which have developed the practice of laying their eggs in the nests of other bees.
- The practice of these insects is reminiscent of that of the cuckoo bird and serves as the source of the name. Check out the post on Cuckoo Wasp as well.
- This particular invertebrate has become quite clever. After leaving the nest of other bees, it will often push soil, leaves, etc., over the opening. This serves to help conceal its intrusion.
- The many members of this amazing genus inhabit most warm regions of the world.
- However, the majority of the various varieties inhabit Europe, North America, and Australia.
Cuckoo Bee Physical Characteristics
The physical appearance of the various species of Cuckoo Bee varies considerably. One of the few standard physical characteristics is the presence of sexual dimorphism.
The females can be easily distinguished from the males as they do not possess the scopa necessary for collecting pollen. In most species of this insect, the females also have less body hair and a thicker exoskeleton.
While not true of all varieties, the majority display bright colors, including brilliant shades of green, red, and blue.
Cuckoo Bee Distribution, Ecology
The stunning Cuckoo Bee displays a behavioral pattern known as kleptoparasitism. Typically, it will enter the nest of a physically similar pollen-collecting species. Then it will lay its eggs within chambers already prepared by bees of the host colony.
When the larva of the invading species hatches, it quickly consumes the pollen ball deposited by bees of the host hive. At this time, if the female did not do so previously, the newly hatched bee will also consume the larva of the host colony. Not cool but nature can be cruel.
In some species, the female will even kill the queen of the host colony and take her place. Those species which display this behavior are famous as social parasites.