Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee
Melecta separata callura
Apidae
Melecta
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Description
Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large, (~15 mm) beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests).
The name Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee is believed to be derived from the description of the pointed abdomen of the female bee combined with the black and white coloration which resembles the mourning attire that may be worn at a funeral.
Nectar/
Pollen Plants
Nectar generalists, without care for pollen.
Habits
Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring.
Season
March - May
