Lunate Ichneumon vs Unequal Cellophane Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lunate Ichneumon Unequal Cellophane Bee
Scientific Name Megarhyssa greenei Colletes inaequalis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Ichneumonidae Colletidae
Size 25-40 mm body, ovipositor up to 80 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Woodlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Parasitoids Nectar Feeders
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lunate Ichneumon

A reddish-brown parasitoid wasp native to North America. It targets horntail larvae in hardwood trees and uses its long ovipositor to reach them.

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Did You Know?

It is the smallest of the three North American Megarhyssa species but still impressively large.

Unequal Cellophane Bee

An early spring bee that forms large nesting aggregations in sandy soil. It lines its cells with a waterproof secretion resembling cellophane.

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Did You Know?

Nesting aggregations can alarm homeowners as thousands of bees emerge from lawns, but they are docile and rarely sting.