Common Mourning Bee
Melecta albifrons
This record describes Melecta albifrons (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Length about 13mm. This is a distinctive spring bee, with the head and body entirely black in the female except for a pair of lateral patches of white appressed hairs on most of the gastral tergites (top surface of the abdomen) and on the legs. However, in some individuals, these patches are darker, so that these are not so obvious. The male has more white or yellowish white hairs, on the head and thorax. Wherever there are nesting aggregations of Hairy-footed Flower Bee ( Anthophora plumipes .) A cuckoo bee of the Hairy-footed Flower Bee, Anthophora plumipes . The female M. albifrons goes into an Anthophora burrow and lays its egg with the pollen food supply gathered by Anthophora . When the Melecta albifrons egg hatches the larva feeds up on the food supply intended for the Anthophora larva, pupates and emerges next year instead of the host. Mainly a southern species fairly frequent from the English Midlands southwards.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Apidae
- Genus
- Melecta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wherever there are nesting aggregations of Hairy-footed Flower Bee (
Seasonal Activity
March to June
Diet and Behavior
Life History
A cuckoo bee of the Hairy-footed Flower Bee,
Additional species information
Recorded status
Mainly a southern species fairly frequent from the English Midlands southwards.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Melecta albifrons. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Common Mourning Bee (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Mourning Bee
What is Common Mourning Bee?
Common Mourning Bee (Melecta albifrons) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Common Mourning Bee?
about 13mm. This is a distinctive spring bee, with the head and body entirely black in the female except for a pair of lateral patches of white appressed hairs on most of the gastral tergites (top surface of the abdomen) and on the legs. However, in some individuals, these patches are darker, so that these are not so obvious. The male has more white or yellowish white hairs, on the head and thorax.
Where is Common Mourning Bee found?
Habitat: Wherever there are nesting aggregations of Hairy-footed Flower Bee (
When is Common Mourning Bee active?
Common Mourning Bee: seasonal activity - March to June.
What is the life cycle of a Common Mourning Bee?
A cuckoo bee of the Hairy-footed Flower Bee,