Chrysididae: Cuckoo Wasps

Biology

Of the more than 200 species of Cuckoo wasps in North America, most occur in the west.  Most species are metallic green, blue green or purple and superficially resemble green sweat bees.  They are parasitoids of other wasps and bees laying eggs on the prey of another wasp or on the gathered nectar/pollen of a bee.  Many Cuckoo wasps visit flowers and help in pollination while others tend to specialize in feeding on aphid honeydew.