donkere dubbeltand
Nomada obscura
The donkere dubbeltand (Nomada obscura) is a dark-colored cuckoo bee species characterized by its distinctive double-toothed mandibles and somber brownish-black coloration with minimal yellow markings. As a cleptoparasitic bee, it infiltrates the nests of solitary ground-nesting bees, particularly Andrena species, where females lay their eggs in host brood cells, with the developing larvae consuming the host's provisions.
14
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Jens Bokelaar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jens Bokelaar
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Apidae
Genus
Nomada
donkere dubbeltand belongs to the family Apidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The donkere dubbeltand (Nomada obscura) is a dark-colored cuckoo bee species characterized by its distinctive double-toothed mandibles and somber brownish-black coloration with minimal yellow markings. As a cleptoparasitic bee, it infiltrates the nests of solitary ground-nesting bees, particularly Andrena species, where females lay their eggs in host brood cells, with the developing larvae consuming the host's provisions.
Nomada obscura, a cuckoo bee species, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of natural grasslands and heathlands where its host species nest. The species is particularly vulnerable because it depends on specific host bee species for reproduction, making it susceptible to cascading effects when host populations decline. Agricultural intensification and urbanization have fragmented remaining suitable habitats across its European range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Nomada obscura inhabits flower-rich grasslands, heathlands, and woodland edges with sandy or well-drained soils that support populations of its ground-nesting bee hosts. The species requires diverse blooming plants from early spring through summer, particularly favoring areas with abundant dandelions, willows, and other early-season nectar sources.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Nomada obscura, a cuckoo bee species, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of natural grasslands and heathlands where its host species nest. The species is particularly vulnerable because it depends on specific host bee species for reproduction, making it susceptible to cascading effects when host populations decline. Agricultural intensification and urbanization have fragmented remaining suitable habitats across its European range.
Agricultural intensification
Decline of host bee populations
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Climate change impacts on habitat suitability
Loss of flower-rich grasslands
Found in 14 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). donkere dubbeltand (Nomada obscura). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/donkere-dubbeltand