European Melittid vs Painted Dark Sweat Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Melittid | Painted Dark Sweat Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta leporina | Lasioglossum pictum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Melittidae | Halictidae |
| Size | 11-14 mm | 6-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Western Europe |
| 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.
Painted Dark Sweat Bee
A small dark furrow bee with fine punctation on its thorax found in western Europe. It nests in sparsely vegetated ground and visits a range of open flowers.
Did You Know?
It is so small and nondescript that it can only be reliably identified from other Lasioglossum species under a microscope.