Coffee Bee Hawk Moth vs European Melittid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Coffee Bee Hawk Moth | European Melittid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cephonodes picus | Melitta leporina |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 35-50 mm | 11-14 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | East Africa, Madagascar | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Coffee Bee Hawk Moth
A smaller clearwing hawk moth with transparent wings and a compact olive and yellow body. It is often found around coffee plantations in Africa where its larvae feed on Rubiaceae.
Did You Know?
This species is sometimes considered a minor pest of coffee plantations in East Africa, where its caterpillars can defoliate young coffee plants.
European Melittid
A medium-sized oligolectic bee that specializes on legume flowers, particularly alfalfa and clovers. It nests in the ground in sparsely vegetated areas.
Did You Know?
It is so efficient at collecting clover pollen that a single bee can visit over 1,000 florets in a single foraging trip.