Dotted Bee Fly vs Glasswing Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dotted Bee Fly | Glasswing Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombylius discolor | Greta oto |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 56-61 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dotted Bee Fly
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur coat. Its larvae parasitize mining bee larvae of the genus Andrena.
Did You Know?
It appears only in spring for a few weeks, closely tracking the flight season of its specific Andrena bee hosts.
Glasswing Butterfly
Remarkable for its transparent wings, created by nanopillar structures that reduce light reflection to just 2%. This makes it nearly invisible in flight through the rainforest.
Did You Know?
The glasswing butterflys transparent wings have anti-reflective nanopillars that inspired researchers to develop better anti-glare coatings for smartphone screens.