The Great Sunflower Project

Photo by Ron Hemberger

Sphecodes – cuckoo bees (Halictidae)
By Lisa Schonberg and Mace Vaughan (Xerces Society) and Gretchen LeBuhn (SFSU)

Genus summary: The large genus Sphecodes occurs on all continents and is widespread throughout its range (Stephen et al 1969). There are about 80 species in the U.S. and Canada (Michener 1994), about 20 in the northwest parts of both the U.S. and Canada (Stephen et al. 1969), and 26 are known from New York State (Danforth & Magnacca 2002). Sphecodes are common in temperate areas but rare in the tropics.

Nesting habits: The entire genus Sphecodes are clepto-parasites on other genera of bees. Clepto-parasitic bees are commonly referred to as “cuckoo bees.” Clepto-parasites do not collect pollen or provide for their own young. They instead deposit their eggs in the nests of other bees. When their larva hatch, they eat the host bee’s young and provisions. Sphecodes are primarily parasites on genera within the family Halictidae, which includes Agapostemon, Halictus, Lasioglossum, and Nomia (Stephen et al. 1969).
Diagnostic characteristics: Sphecodes are minute to moderate in size, sparsely haired and shiny, and between 0.2 to 0.6 inches long (Michener 2000). In most species, females are dark red with a shiny abdomen, and males have a partially or entirely black abdomen (Stephen et al. 1969). They have striking, relatively large depressions (punctuation) on their exoskeleton and a very broad head (Michener 2000). Like all other clepto-parasites, Sphecodes lack pollen-collecting hairs because they do not visit flowers for pollen, but instead steal it from other bees.

Similar taxa: Males of Sphecodes look similar to Halictus males. Male Sphecodes have shorter antennae.

Known conservation concerns:

Interesting fact:

Additional resources: Female behavior in host nests: Sick et al.(1994).