Blood Bee vs Mormon Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blood Bee | Mormon Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphecodes monilicornis | Apodemia mormo |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Halictidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 22-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasites | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Western North America from Canada to Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (species); some subspecies criticall |
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.
Mormon Metalmark
A small butterfly with dark brown wings covered in white spots arranged in irregular bands. Several of its subspecies are critically endangered.
Did You Know?
The Lange's metalmark subspecies, restricted to a single sand dune in California, is one of the rarest butterflies in the world.