Blue Carpenter Bee vs Solomon's Seal Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Carpenter Bee | Solomon's Seal Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xylocopa caerulea | Phymatocera aterrima |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 20-23 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Carpenter Bee
A striking large bee with brilliant blue iridescent coloring. Nests in dead wood by boring tunnels. Despite their intimidating size, they are generally docile and rarely sting.
Did You Know?
The blue carpenter bee is one of the few truly blue bees in the world — its stunning metallic blue coloring comes from structural nanostructures rather than pigment.
Solomon's Seal Sawfly
A small, entirely black sawfly whose grayish-white larvae with black heads are highly destructive to Solomon's seal plants. Larvae feed from the leaf edges inward.
Did You Know?
The larvae are so well camouflaged against the undersides of Solomon's seal leaves that gardeners often only notice them after severe damage is done.