longhorn-cuckoo bees
(Triepeolus spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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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. |
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Description |
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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. |
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Distribution |
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| 9/24/2022 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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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 |
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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) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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longhorn-cuckoo bees |
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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 |
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Triepeolus sp. black and white striped cuckoo bee There were six or more of these bees on grasses in the early morning. |
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Dan W. Andree |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Babette Kis 7/11/2021 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI |
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| 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. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/11/2021
Last Updated: