Cape Oil-collecting Bee vs Green Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cape Oil-collecting Bee Green Stonefly
Scientific Name Rediviva neliana Alloperla caudata
Order Hymenoptera Plecoptera
Family Melittidae Chloroperlidae
Size 10-14 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Nectar Feeders Detritivores
Regions South Africa North America
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Cape Oil-collecting Bee

A South African oil-collecting bee with extraordinarily long front legs used to extract floral oil from deep-spurred Diascia flowers. It is a solitary ground-nesting species.

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Did You Know?

Its front legs can be longer than its entire body, an extreme adaptation for reaching oils at the bottom of deep flower spurs.

Green Stonefly

A small bright green stonefly found along clean mountain streams in North America. Despite its small size, it is an important indicator of excellent water quality.

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Did You Know?

The presence of green stoneflies in a stream is considered strong evidence of pristine water quality by aquatic biologists.