description Nomada fucata Overview
Nomada fucata is a species of cuckoo bee found across the Palearctic region, first described by the entomologist Georg Wolfgang Franz Panzer in 1798. Like other kleptoparasitic bees, it does not construct its own nests or gather pollen. Instead, it relies on the nests of solitary mining bees, particularly those of the genus Andrena, where it lays its eggs for the host to provision.
help Nomada fucata FAQ
Why is Nomada fucata called a cuckoo bee?
A female Nomada fucata does not build or provision her own nest; she enters the nest of another solitary bee and lays an egg there. Her larva uses provisions collected for the host bee's offspring.
Which bee is the host of Nomada fucata?
The documented host is Andrena flavipes, the yellow-legged mining bee. Nomada fucata is often easiest to find by searching around large nesting aggregations of that host. [BWARS species account](https://bwars.com/node/3590)
Who described Nomada fucata and where is it found?
The species was described by Georg Wolfgang Franz Panzer in 1798. It is broadly distributed across the Palearctic and is described as widespread and common in Germany.
How can I recognize Nomada fucata?
Adults are about 8 to 10 mm long and have a wasp-like appearance because they carry little body hair and lack pollen-collecting brushes. A yellow mark on the scutellum is a useful field clue, although a close comparison with other Nomada species may be needed.
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