Hairy-legged Mining Bee vs Asian Mud Dauber
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy-legged Mining Bee | Asian Mud Dauber |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta tricincta | Sceliphron curvatum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Melittidae | Sphecidae |
| Size | 9-11 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Central Asia, Europe |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Hairy-legged Mining Bee
A rare and declining bee that is a strict specialist on red bartsia flowers. It has distinctive hairy hind legs used for carrying the wet, sticky pollen of its host plant.
Did You Know?
Its complete dependence on a single semi-parasitic plant species makes it one of the most ecologically specialized bees in Europe.
Asian Mud Dauber
A dark-bodied mud dauber originally from Central Asia now invasive across Europe. It builds mud nests inside buildings and provisions them with spiders.
Did You Know?
It spread from its native range in India and Central Asia to colonize most of southern and central Europe within just 30 years.