Heath Bee Fly vs Red-legged Jewel Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Heath Bee Fly Red-legged Jewel Beetle
Scientific Name Bombylius minor Castiarina rufipennis
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Bombyliidae Buprestidae
Size 7-10 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Heath Bee Fly

A small, late-summer bee fly with greyish fur and clear wings. Its larvae parasitize solitary wasps in sandy habitats.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most bee flies that appear in spring, this species flies mainly in July and August.

Red-legged Jewel Beetle

A medium-sized jewel beetle with reddish-brown elytra and metallic green thorax. It visits flowers in eucalypt woodlands across southern Australia.

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Did You Know?

The genus Castiarina contains about 500 species, all found only in Australia and New Guinea.