Hairy-footed Flower Bee vs Cape Oil-collecting Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy-footed Flower Bee | Cape Oil-collecting Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthophora plumipes | Rediviva neliana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 14-16 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | South Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
Hairy-footed Flower Bee
A fast-flying, plump solitary bee with males covered in tawny hair and females jet black. It is one of the earliest spring bees, often visiting pulmonaria and comfrey.
Did You Know?
Males hover in front of flowers like tiny hummingbirds, darting between blooms at high speed.
Cape Oil-collecting Bee
A South African oil-collecting bee with extraordinarily long front legs used to extract floral oil from deep-spurred Diascia flowers. It is a solitary ground-nesting species.
Did You Know?
Its front legs can be longer than its entire body, an extreme adaptation for reaching oils at the bottom of deep flower spurs.