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Glite Dictionary
cuckoo-bumblebee

cuckoo-bumblebee

9.9
A bee that lays eggs in bumblebee nests and lets worker bees raise its young
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌkuː ˈbʌmbəlbiː/
translation icon : abeja cuco
  • The cuckoo-bumblebee sneaks into bumblebee nests to lay its eggs.

Examples

  • Unlike typical bumblebees, the cuckoo-bumblebee does not collect pollen for its young.

  • Scientists observed a cuckoo-bumblebee being fed by unsuspecting worker bees.

  • The cuckoo-bumblebee is known for its parasitic behavior.

  • Many cuckoo-bumblebees invade the nests of other bees.

  • The cuckoo-bumblebee relies on bumblebees to care for its young after laying eggs in their nests.

  • After laying its eggs, the cuckoo-bumblebee leaves the worker bees to raise its offspring.

  • A cuckoo-bumblebee can often be seen infiltrating bumblebee nests to lay its eggs unnoticed.

Surface Forms

cuckoo-bumblebee singular
cuckoo-bumblebees plural

Morphology

cuckoo-bumblebee = cuckoo + bumblebee (transparent) = cuckoo + bumble + bee

Clear compound of 'cuckoo' (parasitic bird) + 'bumblebee' (type of bee), indicating a bumblebee species with cuckoo-like parasitic behaviour.

Etymology

Cuckoo-bumblebee combines cuckoo, a bird famous for 'laying eggs in other birds' nests', with bumblebee, so a cuckoo-bumblebee is a bee that sneaks into bumblebee nests and lets the bumblebees raise its young.