Bean Aphid Parasite vs Broad-faced Sweat Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bean Aphid Parasite Broad-faced Sweat Bee
Scientific Name Lysiphlebus fabarum Lasioglossum platycephalum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Braconidae Halictidae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Bean Aphid Parasite

A minute braconid wasp that parasitizes black bean aphids and related species. Some populations reproduce asexually, consisting entirely of females.

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Did You Know?

Certain populations are entirely female and reproduce through parthenogenesis caused by infection with Wolbachia bacteria.

Broad-faced Sweat Bee

A rare and distinctive European furrow bee with an unusually broad, flattened head. It nests in sandy or gravelly soils and has become scarce throughout much of its range.

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Did You Know?

Its flattened head shape is thought to be an adaptation for more efficiently excavating nest tunnels in compacted sandy soil.