Cranberry Blue vs Eastern Carpenter Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cranberry Blue | Eastern Carpenter Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Plebejus optilete | Xylocopa virginica |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Apidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm wingspan | 19-23 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Gardens |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia, subarctic Japan | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Cranberry Blue
A small butterfly with violet-blue upperwings in males and dark brown in females. The hindwing underside has a diagnostic metallic silver spot. It frequents boggy habitats where its larval foodplant cranberry grows.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar is tended by ants which protect it from parasitoids in exchange for sweet honeydew secretions.
Eastern Carpenter Bee
A large robust bee that resembles a bumble bee but has a shiny black hairless abdomen. It excavates nesting tunnels in wood and is an effective pollinator of many garden flowers and crops.
Did You Know?
Males are extremely territorial and will hover aggressively near people, but they lack a stinger and cannot sting.