Gwynne's Mining Bee vs Cuckoo Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Gwynne's Mining Bee | Cuckoo Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Andrena bicolor | Chrysis ignita |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Andrenidae | Chrysididae |
| Size | 8-10 mm | 6-12 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Underground |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Gwynne's Mining Bee
A small, common mining bee with a two-toned appearance: dark brown thorax and orange-brown abdominal hair. It produces two generations per year in most of its range.
Did You Know?
Its two annual generations visit completely different sets of flowers, with spring bees favoring trees and summer bees preferring brambles.
Cuckoo Wasp
A stunning metallic jewel-toned wasp that lays eggs in other wasps nests. Can curl into an armored ball when attacked. Its iridescent colors are among the most vivid in nature.
Did You Know?
Cuckoo wasps have an armored concave underside — when discovered by the host wasp, they curl into a perfect shiny ball that the host cannot sting through.