A cuckoo slumber party? Rediscovery of Nomada (Pachynomada) asteris Swenk, 1913 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with notes on unusual male aggregatory behavior

Despite tremendous global diversity, little is known about Nomada bees. Nomada (Pachynomada) includes 14 species, all within the Nearctic region. Nomada (Pachynomada) asteris is a rare Kansas native that is described from a single female specimen collected in 1908 and 12 male specimens collected in 1949.

The discovery of a putatively healthy population of N. asteris on the outskirts of Lawrence, KS, and a second female museum specimen in the collection at the University of Kansas marks 96 years since the female and 77 years since the male have been observed. An interesting observation was made on the aggregatory roosting behavior of male N. asteris, and is documented here for the first time. This observation marks the first formal description of aggregatory behavior of Nomadinae.

These results highlight the importance of both observational surveys and museum specimens in the ongoing pursuit of understanding bee biology, behavior, and diversity, and signify a need for more-thorough modern survey efforts.