Many cuckoo bees are closely related to their hosts, and may bear similarities in appearance
reflecting this relationship. This common pattern gave rise to the ecological principle known as
"Emery's Rule". This cuckoo bee preys on the nests of blue banded bees.

Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
(unranked): Aculeata
Superfamily: Apoidea
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Melectini
Genus: Thyreus