Bee found in the house - ID?

[Toby]

slight signs of life but wont survive - unable to drink honey water offered.

[poschiavanus]

I don't have books to check, but I'd hazard a guess that this is the cuckoo bee Melecta albifrons. It's victim is Anthophora plumipes.

Several WABbers have reported this appearing in houses at this time of year. I have had several of them in each of the last couple of year. I would think moth treated carpets might have done for it. I'll try & see if I can find one of the old threads.

Meantime I'm sure someone more expert will be along to confirm/reject my ID.

[Matt Smith]

Melecta albifrons.

[Toby]

Thanks, should have known but have a bad memory for bee species. This time of year I always seem to find a lot of these and also Anthophora plumipes dead or dying in my house, I rescue as many as I can.