Blood Bee vs Socotran Emperor Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blood Bee Socotran Emperor Butterfly
Scientific Name Sphecodes monilicornis Charaxes balfouri
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Halictidae Nymphalidae
Size 7-9 mm 55-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Parasites Sap Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Asia
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

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.

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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.

Socotran Emperor Butterfly

An endemic butterfly found only on the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean. Part of the islands extraordinary 42% insect endemism rate.

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Did You Know?

Socotra island has been called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean — over 42% of its insect species are found nowhere else on Earth.