European Melittid vs Lunate Ichneumon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Melittid | Lunate Ichneumon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta leporina | Megarhyssa greenei |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Melittidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 11-14 mm | 25-40 mm body, ovipositor up to 80 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
European Melittid
A medium-sized oligolectic bee that specializes on legume flowers, particularly alfalfa and clovers. It nests in the ground in sparsely vegetated areas.
Did You Know?
It is so efficient at collecting clover pollen that a single bee can visit over 1,000 florets in a single foraging trip.
Lunate Ichneumon
A reddish-brown parasitoid wasp native to North America. It targets horntail larvae in hardwood trees and uses its long ovipositor to reach them.
Did You Know?
It is the smallest of the three North American Megarhyssa species but still impressively large.