longhorn-cuckoo bees

(Triepeolus spp.)

Overview
longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)
Photo by Babette Kis
 

Triepeolus is a genus of longhorn cuckoo bees. It occurs North and South America and in Europe. There are 147 species worldwide, 108 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 4 species in Minnesota. Larvae are parasites of long-horned bees in the tribe Eucerini and in the genera Anthophora, Centris, Melitoma, Ptiloglossa, Xenoglossa, Protoxeae, and Dieunomia. Adults are active in summer and fall and feed on flower nectar.

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Longhorn-cuckoo bees bees are ¼ to ½ in length and look like wasps. The thorax and abdomen are black with highly contrasting white markings. They are densely covered with short, appressed hairs but have no long hairs. The thorax has two white stripes and a white band on the margin which together give the appearance of a smiley face. The abdomen is black with white bands. The antennae are black, rarely reddish. The sensory organs (maxillary palps) attached to the jaw-like mouthparts have three segments. The legs are often reddish.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  9/24/2022      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies)  
 

Suborder

Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees)  
 

Infraorder

Aculeata (ants, bees, and stinging wasps)  
 

Superfamily

Apoidea (bees and apoid wasps)  
  Epifamily Anthophila (bees)  
 

Family

Apidae (honey bees, bumble bees, and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Nomadinae (nomad and related cuckoo bees)  
 

Tribe

Epeolini  
  Subtribe Thalestriina  
 

Genus

Triepeolus (longhorn-cuckoo bees)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

concave longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus concavus)

eucera cuckoo nomad bee (Triepeolus cressonii)

goldenrod longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus pectoralis)

lunate longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus lunatus)

simple longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus simplex)

squash longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus remigatus)

sunflower cuckoo nomad bee (Triepeolus helianthi)

thistle longhorn-cuckoo (Triepeolus donatus)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

longhorn-cuckoo bees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Maxillae

Paired mouth structures of arthropods located immediately behind the mandible and used for tasting and manipulating food. “Under-jaws”.

 

Palp

Short for pedipalp. A segmented, finger-like process of an arthropod; one is attached to each maxilla and two are attached to the labium. They function as sense organs in spiders and insects, and as weapons in scorpions. Plural: palpi or palps.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Babette Kis

 
 

Triepeolus sp. black and white striped cuckoo bee

There were six or more of these bees on grasses in the early morning.

  longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)  
           
    longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)   longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)  
           
    longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)      
 

Dan W. Andree

 
    longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)   longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)  
           
 
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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Babette Kis
7/11/2021

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)  
  Dan W. Andree
Late June 2021

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

There were six or more of these bees on grasses in the early morning.

longhorn-cuckoo bee (Triepeolus sp.)

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 7/11/2021

Last Updated:

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