Sphecodes

Genus Sphecodes

A small dark metallic bee that may have a conspicuous red or half-red abdomen, Sphecodes are keptoparasites, or cuckoo bees, which lay their eggs in the nests of solitary bees–in the case of Sphecodes the nests of other sweat bees. Females have finely folded punctate armor and bristles to help them avoid being stung or pulled from the nests of host bees while they lay their eggs. The larval Sphecodes grow fast by eating the pollen and nectar stored by the host, and eat the host bee’s eggs and larvae as well.

Like other cuckoo bees, Sphecodes do not hoard pollen, but they do eat pollen and nectar for flight fuel, opportunistically

visiting whichever flowers are available nearby while they search for other bees’ nests.