Large Shaggy Bee vs Fig Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Shaggy Bee Fig Wasp
Scientific Name Panurgus banksianus Ceratosolen fusciceps
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Melittidae Agaonidae
Size 10-13 mm 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Forests
Diet Pollen Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe Asia, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Large Shaggy Bee

A densely hairy black bee that specializes on composite flowers, particularly hawkbits and dandelions. Males have distinctively swollen, lemon-yellow faces.

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Did You Know?

Males' bright yellow face patches are thought to mimic the yellow disc florets of the composites they frequent, possibly to ambush females visiting flowers.

Fig Wasp

A tiny wasp that pollinates a single species of fig in an obligate mutualism.

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Did You Know?

Each fig species typically depends on just one species of pollinator wasp.