Honey Bee vs Thread-winged Antlion Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Honey Bee Thread-winged Antlion Lacewing
Scientific Name Apis mellifera Croce filipennis
Order Hymenoptera Neuroptera
Family Apidae Nemopteridae
Size 12-15 mm 15-20 mm forewing; hindwings up to 80 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Predators
Regions Worldwide Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Honey Bee

The worlds most important pollinator. Lives in complex colonies of up to 80,000 individuals with a single queen. Communicates food locations through the waggle dance.

💡

Did You Know?

A honey bee must visit about 2 million flowers and fly over 88,000 km — equivalent to circling the Earth twice — to produce just one pound of honey.

Thread-winged Antlion Lacewing

A bizarre nemopterid with extremely long, thread-like hindwings. Males have hindwings that can be several times their body length.

💡

Did You Know?

Its hindwings can be four times longer than the forewings, trailing behind like fine threads.