Large Sallow Mining Bee vs Wallaces Golden Birdwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Sallow Mining Bee Wallaces Golden Birdwing
Scientific Name Andrena apicata Ornithoptera croesus
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Andrenidae Papilionidae
Size 11-14 mm 160-190 mm wingspan
Habitat Wetlands Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Near Threatened

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.

Wallaces Golden Birdwing

Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who called it the finest specimen he ever captured. Males are brilliant orange-gold and black. Found only in North Maluku, Indonesia.

💡

Did You Know?

Wallace was so overwhelmed by catching this butterfly in 1859 that he wrote his head began to ache and he felt close to fainting from the beauty of the creature.