Blood Bee vs Iris Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blood Bee | Iris Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphecodes monilicornis | Rhadinoceraea micans |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Halictidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 6-8 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Parasites | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blood Bee
A cleptoparasitic bee with a bright red abdomen and black head that attacks the nests of furrow bees. Females enter host nests to lay eggs that hatch and consume the host provisions.
Did You Know?
Its blood-red abdomen is the source of its common name and makes it look more like a ruby-colored ant than a bee.
Iris Sawfly
A small, metallic blue-black sawfly whose grayish larvae with dark heads feed along the edges of iris leaves, producing distinctive notching damage.
Did You Know?
Larvae feed along leaf edges in a perfectly straight line, creating neat rectangular notches that are diagnostic for this species.