Lythrum Bee vs Pacific Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lythrum Bee | Pacific Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitta nigricans | Dasymutilla sackenii |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Melittidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 10-16 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe | Western North America |
| 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.
Pacific Velvet Ant
A medium-sized velvet ant with orange and black coloring found along the Pacific coast of North America. It parasitizes ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Did You Know?
Males are winged and look so different from the wingless females that they were originally described as separate species.