Mercury Islands Tusked Weta vs Anthricinan Yellow-Faced Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Mercury Islands Tusked Weta	Anthricinan Yellow-Faced Bee
Scientific Name	Motuweta isolata	Hylaeus anthracinus
Order	Orthoptera	Hymenoptera
Family	Anostostomatidae	Colletidae
Size	40-50 mm body	6-8 mm
Habitat	Beaches & Coastal	Beaches & Coastal
Diet	Seed Feeders	Nectar Feeders
Regions	Oceania	Oceania
Conservation	Vulnerable	Endangered

Mercury Islands Tusked Weta

One of New Zealands rarest insects, found only on Middle Mercury Island. Males have curved tusks on their mandibles used in territorial combat with rivals.

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Did You Know?

This weta is so rare it was not discovered until 1970, living on a single 13-hectare island — males have tusks protruding from their jaws, unique among weta species.

Anthricinan Yellow-Faced Bee

One of seven Hawaiian yellow-faced bees federally listed as endangered. These small native bees are critical pollinators for Hawaiian coastal plants but face severe decline.

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Did You Know?

Hawaiian yellow-faced bees were the first bees in the United States to be placed on the federal endangered species list, in 2016.