Painted Nomad Bee vs Black-Headed Blister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Painted Nomad Bee Black-Headed Blister Beetle
Scientific Name Nomada fucata Epicauta pennsylvanica
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Apidae Meloidae
Size 8-10mm 10-18 mm
Habitat Woodlands Grasslands
Diet Parasitoids Parasitoids
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Painted Nomad Bee

A bright yellow and black cuckoo bee that parasitizes the nests of Andrena mining bees.

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Did You Know?

Sneaks into mining bee nests while the host is away foraging and lays eggs that will outcompete the host's larva.

Black-Headed Blister Beetle

An entirely black blister beetle common across eastern North America, often seen in large groups on goldenrod in autumn. Its larvae are parasitoids of grasshopper eggs.

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Did You Know?

Larvae go through hypermetamorphosis, changing dramatically in form across five different larval stages.