Large Sallow Mining Bee vs Tinkerbell Fairyfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Sallow Mining Bee Tinkerbell Fairyfly
Scientific Name Andrena apicata Tinkerbella nana
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Andrenidae Mymaridae
Size 11-14 mm 0.25 mm
Habitat Wetlands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe Central America
Conservation Near Threatened Data Deficient

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.

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Did You Know?

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

Tinkerbell Fairyfly

One of the smallest insects ever described, named after Peter Pans Tinker Bell. Discovered in Costa Rica in 2013. Measures only 0.25 mm in length.

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Did You Know?

Named after the fairy Tinkerbell, this wasp is so tiny it can stand on the tip of a human hair — it was described in 2013 from specimens collected using specialized micro-traps.