Large Scabious Mining Bee vs Columbine Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Scabious Mining Bee | Columbine Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Andrena hattorfiana | Pristiphora aquilegiae |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Andrenidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 14-17 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Gardens |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Large Scabious Mining Bee
One of the largest European mining bees with a striking red abdomen loaded with pink pollen. It is a specialist of field scabious flowers.
Did You Know?
Females can carry a huge ball of bright pink scabious pollen on their hind legs that is visible from several meters away.
Columbine Sawfly
A small, dark sawfly whose pale green larvae feed on the leaves of columbine plants. Larvae can cause significant damage in flower gardens.
Did You Know?
Larvae feed from the leaf edges inward and can reduce a columbine plant to bare stems and leaf ribs within days.