Grey-patched Mining Bee vs Yellow-legged Ophion

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Grey-patched Mining Bee Yellow-legged Ophion
Scientific Name Andrena nitida Ophion scutellaris
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Andrenidae Ichneumonidae
Size 10-13 mm 15-20 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Underground
Diet Fruit Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Grey-patched Mining Bee

A glossy black bee with patches of grey hair on the thorax. It is one of the earliest spring-flying solitary bees in Europe.

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Did You Know?

It is a key pollinator of blackthorn, which produces sloe berries used to make sloe gin.

Yellow-legged Ophion

A large orange-brown ichneumon wasp commonly attracted to light at night. Parasitizes large moth caterpillars. Has a laterally compressed, blade-like abdomen.

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Did You Know?

One of the most commonly reported ichneumon wasps in houses, drawn to lights on summer evenings.