Andy Sands / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) parasite of (Anthophora plumipes) on old wall where host species nests, Hertfordshire, England, UK, April

Andy Sands / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) parasite of (Anthophora plumipes) on old wall where host species nests, Hertfordshire, England, UK, April

Nick Upton / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) a parasite of Hairy-Footed Flower Bees (Anthophora plumipes) and other masonry bees, searching an old wall for host nests. Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / Cuckoo Bee (Melecta albifrons) a parasite of Hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) emerging from host nest in an old wall. Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / Female Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes) prevented from entering her burrow in an old wall by a brood parasitic Cuckoo Bee (Melecta albifrons) Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Cuckoo bee (Melecta luctuosa) feeding on Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), Podere Montecucco, Umbria, Italy. June.

Phil Savoie / Mourning bee (Melecta albifrons) a kleptoparasite of the Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes), harvesting Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, May

Phil Savoie / Mourning bee (Melecta albifrons) a kleptoparasite of the Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes), visiting Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), native pollinator, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, wild po...

David Perpinan / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) taking pollen from a nest of a Solitary bee (Anthophora romandii), Barcelona, Spain, May. Controlled conditions.

David Perpinan / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) leaving nest entrance of Solitary bee (Anthophora romandii) and flying away, Barcelona, Spain, April.

David Perpinan / Pair of Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) mating and then falling off branch, Barcelona, Spain, March.