Horned Mason Bee vs Common Scorpionfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Horned Mason Bee | Common Scorpionfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Osmia cornuta | Panorpa communis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Mecoptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Panorpidae |
| Size | 12-15 mm | 9-15 mm body |
| Habitat | Orchards | Underground |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, Western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Horned Mason Bee
A robust spring-flying bee with distinctive horn-like projections on the female's face. It is widely used as a managed pollinator in European fruit orchards.
Did You Know?
It is three times more efficient at pollinating almond flowers than the honeybee.
Common Scorpionfly
Males have a bulbous upturned abdomen tip that resembles a scorpion stinger but is actually their genitalia and is completely harmless. Males offer nuptial gifts of saliva or dead insects.
Did You Know?
Male scorpionflies bring wedding presents — they offer females gifts of dead insects or secreted saliva droplets. Males with better gifts get longer mating opportunities.