Eastern Tailed-Blue vs Cellophane Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Tailed-Blue Cellophane Bee
Scientific Name Cupido comyntas Colletes thoracicus
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Lycaenidae Colletidae
Size 20-29 mm wingspan 10-12 mm
Habitat Grasslands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Tiny blue butterfly with thin tails on the hindwings and orange spots near the tail. One of the smallest and most common butterflies in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Its tiny hindwing tails mimic antennae, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end.

Cellophane Bee

A spring-flying plasterer bee native to eastern North America with dense reddish-brown thoracic hair. It lines its brood cells with a secreted polyester-like film.

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Did You Know?

The transparent polyester lining it secretes is waterproof, fungus-resistant, and chemically similar to commercial plastic wrap.