Neon Cuckoo bee

Identification - Thyreus nitidulus, neon cuckoo bee.

It was overcast first thing this morning, so I waited for the sun to come out, as I wanted to have a go at the martins. I made it to the blipping grounds by 09:00, but by then the show was over. The martins playing on the wing is a morning and evening thing only.

Tomorrow is immigration day, so no martin shoots for at least two days, but there is no rush, it will happen when the opportunity presents.

This bright blue bee slowly hovered by and settled on a stem at the edge of the paddy. I managed a few head-on and side view shots before it departed. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was, but I have not had a photo opportunity for just about a year.

An unusual bee, called the cuckoo bee because of its kleptoparasitic nature of laying its eggs in other bees nests, in this case, the blue banded bee. It sneaks into the nest and lays its eggs in the cells. The hatched grub then consumes the blue banded bee grub and the food provided.

The cuckoo is a pollen feeder, but does not have the pollen baskets on its rear legs like other bees. Why would it, the thing doesn't need to collect pollen seeing as it uses the nests of other bees.

It has been documented that parasite bees are often closely related to their hosts (Emery's rule). It must at least help if you're the same color. Notice how it rests, by clamping the grass stem with its jaws, this is a common practice with blue banded bees.

DAve