Large Sharp-tail Bee
Coelioxys conoideus
The Large Sharp-tail Bee (Coelioxys conoideus) is a distinctive cuckoo bee species characterized by its robust build and sharply pointed abdominal tip, particularly pronounced in females. This parasitic bee does not collect pollen itself but instead infiltrates the nests of other solitary bee species, laying its eggs in their brood cells where the larvae consume the host's provisions.
31
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Megachilidae
Genus
Coelioxys
Large Sharp-tail Bee belongs to the family Megachilidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Large Sharp-tail Bee (Coelioxys conoideus) is a distinctive cuckoo bee species characterized by its robust build and sharply pointed abdominal tip, particularly pronounced in females. This parasitic bee does not collect pollen itself but instead infiltrates the nests of other solitary bee species, laying its eggs in their brood cells where the larvae consume the host's provisions.
The Large Sharp-tail Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated much of its specialized nesting sites and reduced availability of host bee species. Climate change and pesticide use further compound these pressures, making this cleptoparasitic bee extremely vulnerable to extinction.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Coelioxys conoideus inhabits areas with abundant flowering plants near sandy or clay-rich soils where its host bees construct their underground nests. The species is typically found in coastal dunes, heathlands, and traditional agricultural landscapes with hedgerows and wildflower margins.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Large Sharp-tail Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated much of its specialized nesting sites and reduced availability of host bee species. Climate change and pesticide use further compound these pressures, making this cleptoparasitic bee extremely vulnerable to extinction.
Agricultural intensification
Decline of host bee populations
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Climate change impacts
Pesticide contamination
Found in 31 Countries
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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Large Sharp-tail Bee (Coelioxys conoideus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/large-sharp-tail-bee