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Glite Dictionary
Psithyrus

Psithyrus

9.9
A bee that invades other bumblebee nests to lay eggs and has no worker bees
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪθɪrəs/
  • Specialized
: Psithyrus
  • Psithyrus species invade bumblebee nests to lay their eggs and do not have a worker caste.

Examples

  • Unlike true bumblebees, Psithyrus bees lack the structures needed to collect pollen.

  • The life cycle of Psithyrus relies entirely on exploiting the resources of other bumblebee colonies.

  • The Psithyrus species are fascinating for their unique behavior.

  • Did you know that Psithyrus do not have a worker caste?

  • Psithyrus bees are known to invade the nests of bumblebees, laying their eggs without establishing a worker caste.

  • The parasitic nature of Psithyrus allows them to thrive in bumblebee colonies by utilizing their resources without contributing to pollen collection.

  • Unlike typical bumblebees, Psithyrus species do not possess the ability to gather pollen and instead depend on their hosts.

Surface Forms

Psithyrus singular
Psithyri plural

Etymology

Psithyrus comes from the Greek word psithyros, which means 'whisper'. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine these bees as 'whispering' intruders that quietly enter bumblebee nests to lay eggs and live off the host instead of collecting pollen.