Epeoloides pilosulus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Epeoloides pilosulus |
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The Epeoloides pilosulus is a very special type of bee. It is one of only two species in its entire bee group, called Epeoloides. This bee is known for being a "cuckoo bee." This means it doesn't build its own nest. Instead, it lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, specifically melittid bees from the Macropis group.
These cuckoo bees are quite rare. They are only found in a few places in the northeastern United States and nearby parts of Canada. Because they are so uncommon, the State of Connecticut has listed this bee as an Endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
A Bee's Amazing Comeback Story
This special bee was once found across many areas in the northern and eastern United States and southern Canada. However, after 1960, almost no one saw them anymore. People started to worry that the Epeoloides pilosulus bee might have become extinct, meaning it had completely died out.
Rediscovery in Canada and the US
Luckily, in 2002, this bee was found again in Nova Scotia, Canada! This was a very exciting discovery. More recently, it was also spotted in Connecticut, in an area where power lines are located. This showed that the bee was still out there.
New Sightings in Wisconsin
In 2019, scientists were looking for native bees in the Great Lakes region. They were doing a survey to count different types of pollinators. During this survey, they found three male Epeoloides pilosulus bees! These bees were discovered in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, near Lakewood, Wisconsin. Finding these bees again gives hope that we can help protect them.
