Hairy-legged Mining Bee vs Brazilian Meinertellid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy-legged Mining Bee | Brazilian Meinertellid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta tricincta | Machilinus rupestris |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Archaeognatha |
| Family | Melittidae | Meinertellidae |
| Size | 9-11 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Mediterranean 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.
Brazilian Meinertellid
A bristletail found in rocky habitats in the Mediterranean. It is smaller than most machilids and frequents dry, warm environments.
Did You Know?
It is adapted to much drier habitats than most other bristletail species.