Large Yellow-faced Bee vs Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Yellow-faced Bee Lunar Ichneumon Wasp
Scientific Name Hylaeus signatus Megarhyssa lunator
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Colletidae Ichneumonidae
Size 7-9 mm 30-50 mm body, ovipositor up to 130 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Large Yellow-faced Bee

One of the larger masked bees in Europe with prominent yellow face patches. It is a specialist on wild mignonette and reseda flowers.

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Did You Know?

It depends on brownfield and wasteland habitats that are often viewed as ugly but actually support a rich bee diversity.

Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

A striking ichneumon with a yellow and brown banded body. It parasitizes pigeon tremex horntail larvae inside hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Its ovipositor is the longest relative to body size of any insect in North America.