While taking photographs of the wrens today, my 8 year old daughter was sitting with me, chatting and watching the birds, when she pointed out this lone exquisite bee on a nearby flowering weed. I managed to take a few photographs before it moved on. After a bit of researching I have been able to identify it thanks to the wonderful website of www.aussiebe.com.au. The bee is a Chequered Cuckoo Bee and it is Native to Australia.
The female Chequered Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus caeruleopunctatus) seeks out the burrow nests of the Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata), and lays an egg into a partly completed brood cell while it is unguarded. The same characteristics of the Cuckoo Birds in Australia!
The Chequered Cuckoo Bee is similar to the Neon Cuckoo Bee but can be distinguished its spots on its back. The Neon Cuckoo Bee has stripes.
Very exciting find thanks to Miss 8 - always great to add a new species to the list! Happy with the photos considering the lense I had on the camera and the distance.
J.G.
J.G.
The female Chequered Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus caeruleopunctatus) seeks out the burrow nests of the Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata), and lays an egg into a partly completed brood cell while it is unguarded. The same characteristics of the Cuckoo Birds in Australia!
The Chequered Cuckoo Bee is similar to the Neon Cuckoo Bee but can be distinguished its spots on its back. The Neon Cuckoo Bee has stripes.
Very exciting find thanks to Miss 8 - always great to add a new species to the list! Happy with the photos considering the lense I had on the camera and the distance.
J.G.
Hello JG,
ReplyDeleteI was most choughed to see an image of a Chequered Cuckoo Bee on your blog. I
We have only just encountered this species ourselves this year on the 6-Apr-13 at our revegetation property in the far lower south east of SA.
Keep up the fine work.
Bryan, Toni, Henry and Ned Haywood