Lythrum Bee vs African Mud Dauber
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lythrum Bee | African Mud Dauber |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta nigricans | Sceliphron spirifex |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Melittidae | Sphecidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Underground |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Throughout Africa |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Lythrum Bee
A specialist bee that collects pollen from purple loosestrife along rivers and wetland margins. It is a ground-nesting species found in damp habitats.
Did You Know?
It times its emergence precisely to the flowering of purple loosestrife in July, and in years of drought it may fail to reproduce entirely.
African Mud Dauber
A slender black and yellow wasp with an extremely narrow petiole waist. It constructs mud nests on walls and ceilings, provisioning them with paralyzed spiders.
Did You Know?
A single mud nest cell may contain up to 25 paralyzed spiders stacked together as food for one developing larva.