05/20/2026
Today is ! We humans frequently associate bees with hard work and industrious behaviour, but did you know that some bees take the “work smarter, not harder” approach to life?
Meet the cuckoo bee, also known by its genus name “Nomada”. Through the warmer months of the year, most solitary bees are hard at work. An adult female will mate, build a nest cell, fill it with nectar and pollen, lay eggs, seal the nest up, and repeat the process until there are no more eggs to lay. It’s a life of hard work, but one that pays off when the next generation hatches in a safe nest with plenty to eat… which may not happen if “Nomada” is lurking nearby!
When females of “Nomada” are ready to lay eggs, they scope out the nests that other solitary bees are building. Once an unattended nest cell with a good supply of food is found, they will lay one or more eggs inside, then buzz off fast! The bee that built the nest will return with more food, lay its own egg, and seal the nest. The “Nomada” eggs hatch into larvae, which will eat the stashed food and the host's offspring, then pupate in the safety of the stolen nest. Eventually, they develop into adults, chew their way out of the nest, and go out in search of more nests to plunder for the next generation!
You can see more amazing bee specimens on display in the Prairies Gallery and the Boreal Corridor. Next time you buzz over, be sure to check them out!
Image ©Manitoba Museum
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Alt text: A pinned specimen from the bee species Nomada against an off-white background. The bee’s head is facing to the right of the frame. The specimen’s body is black with orange-yellow stripes and legs, and measures approximately 1 cm in length.
