Nomada flava

• Scientific name: Nomada flava
• Common name: cuckoo bee
• Dimension: 10-14 mm
• Habitat: adaptable to different habitats: sparse woods, forest edges, uncultivated areas, dry and fertile meadows, hedgerows
• Behavior: cuckoo bees
• Nest: nests of other parasitic bees
• Parasitized species: Andrena nitida, Andrena nigroaenea, Andrena carantonica
• Red list of bees in Switzerland: not endangered

Interesting Facts:

Cuckoo bees are parasitic and mainly lay their eggs in the nests of the Andrena species. It is believed that they emit a smell similar to that of the host females, allowing them to remain undisturbed in the nest for up to half an hour without provoking aggressive reactions.