Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly vs Spined Sweat Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly Spined Sweat Bee
Scientific Name Pamphilius betulae Agapostemon splendens
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Pamphiliidae Halictidae
Size 9-13 mm 9-12 mm
Habitat Woodlands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, northern Asia Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly

A flat-bodied sawfly with long, thread-like antennae and a broad abdomen. Larvae roll birch leaves into tubes using silk and feed inside these shelters.

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Did You Know?

The larva creates an elaborate rolled-leaf shelter that protects it from both predators and weather while it feeds inside.

Spined Sweat Bee

A brilliantly iridescent green sweat bee with bluish reflections found in the eastern United States. Both sexes are entirely metallic green, unlike many other Agapostemon species.

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Did You Know?

It strongly prefers nesting in moist or damp soil near water, unlike most other sweat bees that prefer drier substrates.