Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee

The Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee (Thyreus himalayensis) is an example of a cuckoobee native to Singapore. This attractively-coloured, fast-flying species can often be found darting rapidly around their preferred flowers, such as Indian Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta indica).

Identifying features

Check out some identifying features of the Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee!

This species has a striking, contrasting pattern of jet black with bright, neon blue or white spots across its thorax and abdomen. As they do not forage for young, they lack of hairy pollen-collecting baskets on their legs or abdomens.

Habitat and ecology

These bees are "nest cleptoparasites" , instead of constructing nests of their own, they they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees, in particular the Sunda Blue-banded Bees (Amegilla andrewsi).

Did you know?

Just like a cuckoo bird, this bee sneaks into the unguarded nest of a host bee to lay its own egg. When the cloak-and-dagger larva hatches, it consumes the host's carefully gathered pollen provisions, and usually destroys the host egg in the process!

Learn more about the Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee!

Curious about the Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.

What to do if you encounter the Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee

Biodiversity of Singapore - Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee