Clarke's Mining Bee vs Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Clarke's Mining Bee Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly
Scientific Name Andrena clarkella Xyela alpigena
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Andrenidae Xyelidae
Size 10-14 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Mountains
Diet Pollen Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, particularly Alpine regions
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Clarke's Mining Bee

An early spring bee with females covered in bright orange-red fur. It is closely associated with willow catkins for pollen.

💡

Did You Know?

It is one of the first solitary bees to emerge each spring, sometimes appearing as early as February.

Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly

A minute sawfly that is part of the oldest surviving lineage of Hymenoptera. Adults have the distinctive elongated third antennal segment characteristic of xyelids.

💡

Did You Know?

This high-altitude species represents a living lineage that has survived essentially unchanged for over 200 million years.