Nomada Cuckoo Bee vs Odorous House Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nomada Cuckoo Bee Odorous House Ant
Scientific Name Nomada marshamella Tapinoma sessile
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Formicidae
Size 9-12mm 2.5-3 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Indoors
Diet Parasitoids Omnivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nomada Cuckoo Bee

A wasp-like cuckoo bee with red and black markings that sneaks into andrena bee nests to lay its eggs.

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Did You Know?

Mimics a wasp in appearance and behavior to avoid detection while sneaking into the nests of mining bees.

Odorous House Ant

A small dark brown ant that emits a distinctive rotten coconut smell when crushed. It is one of the most common household pest ants in North America.

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Did You Know?

The smell produced when crushed is caused by methyl ketones, the same compounds found in blue cheese.