Large Sallow Mining Bee vs Parasitic Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Sallow Mining Bee Parasitic Bee Fly
Scientific Name Andrena apicata Winthemia rufopicta
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Andrenidae Tachinidae
Size 11-14 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Wetlands Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Large Sallow Mining Bee

A rare, early-spring mining bee that specializes on sallow and willow catkins. It has declined significantly across Europe due to loss of wetland habitats.

💡

Did You Know?

It is so dependent on sallow catkins that the removal of sallow trees from wetlands has caused local extinctions across England.

Parasitic Bee Fly

A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is found across multiple continents.

💡

Did You Know?

Females deposit multiple larvae on a single caterpillar but only one typically survives to maturity.