Cuckoo Bee vs Variegated Flower Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cuckoo Bee | Variegated Flower Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nomada flava | Gnorimus variabilis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Parks |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Cuckoo Bee
A slender, wasp-like bee with yellow and black banding that lacks pollen-collecting structures. It is a brood parasite that sneaks into the nests of mining bees to lay its eggs.
Did You Know?
Like cuckoo birds, these bees lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species, where the cuckoo larva kills the host egg and consumes all the stored food.
Variegated Flower Beetle
A dark brown or black beetle with variable yellow-white spots on the elytra. It is extremely rare and tied to ancient hollow trees.
Did You Know?
It is so rare in Britain that it has been found at only a handful of sites in its entire recorded history.