Genus Nomada - Nomad Bees

Nomada Scopoli 1770

Greek nomad- 'roaming'(1)

>280 spp. in our area, >700 spp. worldwide/total(2)

Most are small or medium in size.

Wasp-like, often red or red and black and often with yellow integumental markings. Others are yellow and black or have white markings instead of yellow. Females have specialized hair patches at the tip of their abdomen whereas males have a conspicuous pygidial plate, often notched.

In our area, widespread in North America. Genus is found over much of the world (map)(2)

mostly: March-July or longer (BG data)

Cleptoparasites on other bees, most often Andrena but also including Agapostemon, Melitta, Eucera, and Exomalopsis. Both sexes visit open flowers such as composites for nectar. (See Life Cycle.)

Cleptoparasites of various bees, primarily Andrena but also Agapostemon and Eucera (Synhalonia) (these are usually larger than the Andrena cleptoparasites). (J.S. Ascher, 23.iv.2008). The parasitic relationship is very host-specific, with each species of Nomada associated with a particular species of solitary bee (Quicke, p. 346).

Males mimic the specific odors of the host females and patrol the host nest site(3). Females obtain the mimetic chemicals from the males (Quicke, p. 346).

Alexander, B. A. 1994. Species-groups and cladistic analysis of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Nomada (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 55: 175-238. (Full Text)

Alexander, B. A., and M. Schwarz. 1994. A catalog of the species Nomada (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of the world. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 55: 239-270. (Full Text)

Quicke, Donald L. J. 2017. Mimicry, Crypsis, Masquerade and other Adaptive Resemblances. Oxford: Wiley.