Blue-Banded Bee vs Banded Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-Banded Bee | Banded Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amegilla cingulata | Dasymutilla occidentalis africana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Australia, Southeast Asia, India | Southern Africa, East Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue-Banded Bee
A striking Australian native bee with iridescent turquoise bands on its abdomen. They are important buzz pollinators of tomatoes and other crops.
Did You Know?
They bang their heads against flowers at 350 times per second to vibrate pollen loose, a technique called buzz pollination.
Banded Velvet Ant
A wingless wasp covered in dense orange and black velvety hair. Despite the name, it is actually a solitary wasp, not an ant.
Did You Know?
Their sting is so painful it has earned them the nickname 'cow killer' despite being unable to actually kill cattle.