Field Digger Wasp vs Desert Large-headed Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Field Digger Wasp Desert Large-headed Bee
Scientific Name Mellinus arvensis Ctenocolletes nigricans
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Crabronidae Stenotritidae
Size 10-14mm 11-15 mm
Habitat Heathland Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Central and Western Australia
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Field Digger Wasp

A yellow and black wasp that nests in sandy soil and provisions each cell with paralyzed hoverflies.

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Did You Know?

Digs a nest burrow in bare sandy soil and stocks each cell with 5-8 precisely paralyzed hoverflies.

Desert Large-headed Bee

A dark-bodied, heat-tolerant bee found in arid inland Australia. It forages during the hottest parts of the day when most other bees are inactive.

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Did You Know?

It can remain active in ambient temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius that would ground most other bee species.