Heather Mining Bee vs Sand Gropper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Heather Mining Bee Sand Gropper
Scientific Name Andrena fuscipes Cylindraustralia kochii
Order Hymenoptera Orthoptera
Family Andrenidae Cylindrachetidae
Size 10-12 mm 20-35 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Pollen Feeders Root Feeders
Regions Europe Oceania
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Heather Mining Bee

A late-summer specialist bee that collects pollen almost exclusively from heather and bell heather. It nests in sandy soil on heathlands.

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Did You Know?

Its late summer flight season precisely coincides with heather bloom and it is one of the last solitary bees flying in the year.

Sand Gropper

A bizarre cylindrical cricket adapted for burrowing in sandy soils in Australia.

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Did You Know?

It convergently evolved a mole-cricket-like body despite being in a separate family.