Keyhole Wasp vs Sweat Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Keyhole Wasp | Sweat Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pachodynerus nasidens | Halictus ligatus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Halictidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 7-11 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Americas, introduced to Australia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Keyhole Wasp
A mud-nesting wasp notorious for building nests inside aircraft pitot tubes. It has caused aviation incidents by blocking airspeed sensors.
Did You Know?
Brisbane Airport installed covers on aircraft sensors specifically because of this species.
Sweat Bee
A small, dark metallic bee that is attracted to human perspiration for its salt content. It exhibits variable social behavior ranging from solitary to primitively eusocial nesting.
Did You Know?
Sweat bees are among the most important wild pollinators of crops, and some species can switch between solitary and social living depending on environmental conditions.