Eastern Tailed-Blue vs Desert Globe Mallow Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Tailed-Blue Desert Globe Mallow Bee
Scientific Name Cupido comyntas Diadasia diminuta
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Lycaenidae Apidae
Size 20-29 mm wingspan 8-12 mm
Habitat Grasslands Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America 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.

Desert Globe Mallow Bee

A specialist solitary bee that visits only globe mallow flowers in the American Southwest. It lines its underground nest cells with an oily secretion to waterproof them.

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Did You Know?

Its extreme flower loyalty makes it one of the most efficient pollinators of globe mallow plants.