| Neolarra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Neolarra pruinosa female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Subfamily: | Nomadinae |
| Tribe: | Neolarrini |
| Genus: | Neolarra Ashmead, 1890 |
Neolarra is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. There are about 16 described species in Neolarra, all from North America. [1] [2] [3] [4] These bees are smaller than a grain of rice and are kleptoparasites of Perdita bees.
Smaller than a grain of rice, these bees lay eggs in the nests of Perdita bees; the Neolarra egg hatches and the larva eats the egg and food store (of pollen [5] ) intended for a Perdita larva. It enters while the host bee is gone to avoid detection. [6]
It is likely that, in order to hide them from the returning Perdita bee, the eggs are inserted into the walls of brood cells (underground chambers). [5] In order to overpowers and kill the young Perdita egg or larva the Neolarra larva develops and uses a hard, sickle-shaped tooth. [5]
Neolarra was first described in 1890 by Ashmead, as a kind of wasp instead of a bee. [7] This was corrected by Baker in 1896. [7] The genus Phileremulus, created in 1895 when Neolarra was still considered to be a genus of wasp, was revised to be a subgenus of Neolarra by Charles Michener in 1939. [7]
These 16 species belong to the genus Neolarra:
Data sources: i = ITIS, [1] c = Catalogue of Life, [2] g = GBIF, [3] b = Bugguide.net [4]
Megachilidae is a cosmopolitan family of mostly solitary bees. Characteristic traits of this family are the restriction of their pollen-carrying structure to the ventral surface of the abdomen, and their typically elongated labrum. Megachilid genera are most commonly known as mason bees and leafcutter bees, reflecting the materials from which they build their nest cells ; a few collect plant or animal hairs and fibers, and are called carder bees, while others use plant resins in nest construction and are correspondingly called resin bees. All species feed on nectar and pollen, but a few are kleptoparasites, feeding on pollen collected by other megachilid bees. Parasitic species do not possess scopae. The motion of Megachilidae in the reproductive structures of flowers is energetic and swimming-like; this agitation releases large amounts of pollen.
Nomadinae is a subfamily of bees in the family Apidae. They are known commonly as cuckoo bees.
Ripiphoridae is a cosmopolitan family of some 450 described species of beetles sometimes called "wedge-shaped beetles". Ripiphoridae are unusual among beetle families in that many species are hypermetamorphic parasitoids, an attribute that they share with the Meloidae. Members of the family differ in their choice of hosts, but most attack various species of bees or wasps, while some others attack cockroaches or beetles. Many species of Ripiphoridae have abbreviated elytra, and flabellate or pectinate antennae.
The Bombini are a tribe of large bristly apid bees which feed on pollen or nectar. Many species are social, forming nests of up to a few hundred individuals; other species, formerly classified as Psithyrus cuckoo bees, are brood parasites of nest-making species. The tribe contains a single living genus, Bombus, the bumblebees, and some extinct genera such as Calyptapis and Oligobombus. The tribe was described by Pierre André Latreille in 1802.
Perdita is a large genus of small bees native to North America, particularly diverse in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. There are over 600 currently recognized species of Perdita, plus more than 100 additional subspecies and many more species that remain undescribed. Perdita are usually quite small and often brightly colored with metallic reflections and/or yellow or white markings, and among the few lineages of bees incapable of stinging. The genus was extensively treated by P.H. Timberlake who, in addition to T.D.A. Cockerell, described most of the known species. Most species are extreme specialists (oligoleges) with respect to pollen and will only collect pollen from a few closely related species or genera of plants. Many species in this genus are called fairy bees.
The cuckoo bee genus Osiris is a rare group of apid bees from the Neotropics, that lay their eggs in the nests of bees in the related tribe Tapinotaspidini, such as Paratetrapedia. Most of the known species are pale yellowish, smooth and shining, and very wasp-like in appearance.
The Bethylidae are a family of aculeate wasps in the superfamily Chrysidoidea. As a family, their biology ranges between parasitoid wasps and hunting wasps.
Sphecodopsis is a genus of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. Endemic to southern Africa, the wasp-like bees of this genus are generally small, varying from 3.9 to 9 mm in length, and mostly black, with orange-ish or reddish colouring of the metasoma in some of the species. The bee genus Scrapter is recognised as a host for the cleptoparasitic life cycle of some Sphecodopsis, but further data regarding preferred hosts is not available for most of the species.
Exomalopsis is a genus of bees in the family Apidae. They occur in the Western Hemisphere.
Hesperapis is a genus of bees in the family Melittidae. There are at least 30 described species in Hesperapis. The genus is very uncommon and is restricted only to coastal barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico and dunes of the Great Lakes. Its abdomen is flattened and its integument or "skin" is soft compared to other groups of bees.
The Thynnidae are a family of large, solitary wasps whose larvae are almost universally parasitoids of various beetle larvae, especially those in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Until recently, the constituents of this family were classified in the family Tiphiidae, but multiple studies have independently confirmed that thynnids are a separate lineage.
Macrotera is a genus of bees native to North America, particularly diverse in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. According to Wilson and Carril, there are "around 30" species of Macrotera. Macrotera are small to medium sized and often black or reddish in coloration. The genus was treated by P.H. Timberlake who, in addition to T.D.A. Cockerell, described most of the known species. Macrotera used to be considered part of the genus Perdita but was split apart by C.D. Michener in 2000. Most species are extreme specialists (oligoleges) with respect to pollen and will only collect pollen from a few closely related species or genera of plants, particularly the plant genus Sphaeralcea and various Cactaceae.
Epeolus is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. They are often known as variegated cuckoo-bees. The species is uncommon to rare, and has strong patterns of black and white on the thorax and abdomen. These patterns are made of tiny fat hairs lying flush with the integument or "skin" of the bee. It is easily mistaken for Triepeolus, but is almost always smaller.
Trachusa is a genus of leafcutter, mason, and resin bees in the family Megachilidae. There are at least 50 described species in Trachusa.
Ashmeadiella is a genus of bees in the family Megachilidae. There are more than 60 described species in Ashmeadiella.
Brachymelecta is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae, formerly known by the name Xeromelecta.
Melecta is a genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. There are at least 50 described species in Melecta.
Brachynomadini is a tribe of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. There are at least 5 genera and 20 described species in Brachynomadini.
Protandrena is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae. Depending upon whose definition of the genus one follows, there are anywhere from 50 to 180 described species in Protandrena; traditional classifications recognize 7 subgenera, some of which are sometimes elevated to genus rank, and other classifications place many of these species in the related genus Pseudopanurgus (e.g.), leaving Protandrena with a much smaller constituency. In the most inclusive definition, they are found from Canada through Argentina. However, there is current disagreement whether the Protandrena in South America belong to different genera, in which case the genus extends only as far south as Panama. They are solitary bees, but some species nest in aggregations. They prefer to nest in sunny areas with sparse vegetation. The underground nests have cells lined with a chemical substance. This "wallpaper" acts as a barrier between fungi and bacteria. The eggs hatch, the larvae develop, and then overwinter as mature larvae with hardened skin. They are primarily active from May to October, but have been noted to be active in April in the region six of the United States.
Perdita sexmaculata is a species of bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Media related to Neolarra at Wikimedia Commons