Green Metallic Bee vs Oak Apple Gall Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Metallic Bee Oak Apple Gall Wasp
Scientific Name Augochloropsis metallica Biorhiza pallida
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Halictidae Cynipidae
Size 9-12 mm 3.5–6 mm
Habitat Grasslands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Gall Makers
Regions Eastern North America Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Green Metallic Bee

A large, robustly built metallic green sweat bee common throughout eastern North America. It is a ground-nesting communal species often found in dense nesting aggregations.

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Did You Know?

Despite their jewel-like appearance, they are commonly overlooked because they are often mistaken for small green flies.

Oak Apple Gall Wasp

A gall wasp that creates large spongy apple-like galls on oak twigs. It has an alternating sexual and asexual generation cycle.

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Did You Know?

The asexual generation develops in root galls underground, while the sexual generation produces the conspicuous twig galls.