Catsear Nomad Bee
Nomada integra
The Catsear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra) is a small cuckoo bee species with distinctive yellow and black markings that parasitizes the nests of mining bees. This wasp-like bee lacks pollen-collecting structures and instead relies on laying its eggs in host bee nests where its larvae consume the host's provisions.
32
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Guilherme Ramos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Guilherme Ramos
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Apidae
Genus
Nomada
Catsear Nomad Bee belongs to the family Apidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Catsear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra) is a small cuckoo bee species with distinctive yellow and black markings that parasitizes the nests of mining bees. This wasp-like bee lacks pollen-collecting structures and instead relies on laying its eggs in host bee nests where its larvae consume the host's provisions. As a specialized parasitoid, it plays a unique role in regulating populations of its solitary bee hosts.
The Catsear Nomad Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated much of its specialized host plant communities. As a cleptoparasitic species that depends on specific host bee species, it is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the broader pollinator community and changes in floral resource availability.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Nomada integra inhabits flower-rich grasslands, chalk downs, and coastal dunes where catsear and other composite flowers bloom alongside suitable nesting areas for its mining bee hosts. The species requires close proximity between nectar sources and bare or sparsely vegetated ground where host bees excavate their underground nests.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Catsear Nomad Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated much of its specialized host plant communities. As a cleptoparasitic species that depends on specific host bee species, it is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the broader pollinator community and changes in floral resource availability.
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Loss of host bee populations
Climate change impacts on phenology
Decline in native wildflower communities
Found in 32 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Catsear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/catsear-nomad-bee