Four-spotted Cuckoo Bee vs Yellow-legged Mining Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Four-spotted Cuckoo Bee | Yellow-legged Mining Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nomada leucophthalma | Andrena flavipes |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Andrenidae |
| Size | 9-12 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Four-spotted Cuckoo Bee
A wasp-like cuckoo bee with reddish-brown and yellow markings that parasitizes Andrena mining bees. It is one of the earliest flying spring bees in Europe.
Did You Know?
It closely resembles a small wasp rather than a bee, which helps it avoid being recognized as a threat by its hosts.
Yellow-legged Mining Bee
A widespread mining bee with distinctive yellow-orange pollen brushes on its hind legs. It produces two generations per year in warmer parts of its range.
Did You Know?
Spring and summer generations can look so different in body size and hair color that they were once thought to be separate species.