Cuckoo Bees

Additional Information
Types of Bees
Wasps

Hairless and small in size, Cuckoo Bees family resemble wasps more than they resemble bees.

In fact, they are classified as bees that share the same family (Apidae) as the more familiar honeybees and bumblebees.

The common name cuckoo refers to the bee's practice of brood parasitism, like it's namesake in the bird world, the Cuckoo bird.

Adults lay their eggs in ground nests of other bee species, and then let the young fend for themselves.

Adults nectar on flowers as they look for suitable nest sites.

Cuckoo bees come in a variety of colors, from black and white striped bodies to red bodies like the one pictured above.