Epeolus novomexicanus
This Cuckoo Bee was waiting on rabbitbrush for the morning to warm
up on this cool October day on Antelope Island. I'd never seen anything
quite like this pale creature (In 2018 Dr. John Ascher from Bugguide
idenfied this as Epeolus novomexicanus.) © Carol Davis, 10-26-2008
Like Cuckoo birds who lay eggs in nests of other birds, these bees lay eggs in the nest (in the collected
pollen) of other bees - specifically Cellophane Bees. This form of feeding is called "Kleptoparasitism"
and is found throughout the animal kingdom; I guess that way you don't have to clean house, listen
to the kids fight, or feed the family. It's an amazing and crazy world we live in, isn't it? Thought
added in 2018: This bee was right in an area where I have seen Cellophane Bees nesting. You
can see more pictures of this species from 2016 here. © Carol Davis, 10-26-2008
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