Melecta albifrons

Home Page

Plants

Molluscs

Crustaceans

Spiders

Insects

Amphibians

Reptiles

Birds

Mammals

Back
Common Mourning Bee      Melecta albifrons
Prev
Next
Notes
This is a "cuckoo" bee - a cleptoparasite of Anthophora bees. Cleptoparasites steal food from other species to feed their young, and in this case it is done by laying its egg in the nest hole of the host species. The larva then kills the young and eats the food-store left there.

It is said (Falk, 2015) to be common in southern Britain where its host has colonies. Urban locations such as churchyards are perhaps especially frequent. We do have colonies of Anthophora bees locally, and this particular example was found in my garden adjacent to Manor Park Cemetery. I am not sure why they are called "mourning" bees, but there are stories of bees attacking mourners at funerals, and perhaps the association with churchyards has something to do with it!
Capel Road garden, 20 April 2011
Back
More