# Nomad Bees (*Nomada*) Nomad bees are small, fuzzy insects that love to visit flowers. They help plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect food for their babies. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Nomad Bees](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Wespenbiene_Nomada_succincta_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Darkone ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wespenbiene_Nomada_succincta_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Nomad Bee has a slender, often wasp-like body, with sparse hair compared to typical bees. Their striking coloration frequently includes patterns of bright red, yellow, orange, and black bands. They lack the specialized pollen-collecting hairs found on many other bee species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Nomada ## Interesting facts - Many Nomad Bees wear striking red, yellow, and black like tiny wasps! - Their sneaky larvae eat the food collected for other bee babies! - They often locate their host's underground nests by smell alone! - Unlike most bees, Nomad Bees don't gather pollen for their own young. ## Special abilities - **Host Nest Finder:** Nomad Bees can locate the hidden, underground nests of other solitary bees, often by scent, to lay their own eggs. - **Stealthy Egg Layer:** Nomad Bees can quickly and discreetly lay their eggs inside a host bee's nest without being detected by the owner. - **Mimicry Master:** Some Nomad Bees have wasp-like markings that help them blend in or deter predators and host bees. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-30 mm - **Size:** 5-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Nomad Bees sip sweet flower nectar for energy, but their young enjoy food collected by other bees! - **Age differences:** Larvae consume pollen and nectar provisions collected by host bees; adults forage for nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen (larvae only) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** Early Mining Bee (*Andrena haemorrhoa*) — Nomad Bees lay eggs in this bee's nest to steal food. - **Parasitizes:** Common Furrow Bee (*Lasioglossum calceatum*) — Their larvae develop by consuming resources intended for this bee's young. - **Parasitizes:** Long-horned Bee (*Eucera longicornis*) — Some Nomad species target the nests of these distinctive long-horned bees. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't bother bees while they are working; just watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nomad Bees? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Nomad Bees's wingspan? 10-30 mm ### How big is Nomad Bees? 5-15 mm ### How long does Nomad Bees live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Nomad Bees fly? 20 km/h ### What does Nomad Bees eat? Adult Nomad Bees sip sweet flower nectar for energy, but their young enjoy food collected by other bees! ### Where is Nomad Bees usually found? Grasslands ### How does Nomad Bees hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Queen Anne Boulevard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/queen-anne-boulevard) — Washington, US · Park - [Grand Isle State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-isle-state-park) — Louisiana, US · State Park - [Bear Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Mount Maxwell Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-maxwell-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Magnolia Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Nomad Bees](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nomad-bees) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Nomad Bees: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nomad-bees)