Neon Cuckoo Bee vs Dusty Cicada

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neon Cuckoo Bee Dusty Cicada
Scientific Name Thyreus nitidulus Yanga pulverea
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Apidae Cicadidae
Size 10-14 mm 35-50 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Pollen Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Australia Madagascar
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Neon Cuckoo Bee

A stunning blue-spotted cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of blue-banded bees. The cuckoo larva hatches first and consumes the host's pollen provisions.

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Did You Know?

Their brilliant blue spots are formed by dense patches of iridescent hairs that mimic the coloring of their host bees.

Dusty Cicada

A medium to large cicada with a dusty gray-brown body and translucent wings bearing dark venation. It is one of the more commonly encountered cicadas in Madagascar.

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Did You Know?

Its species name 'pulverea' means dusty, referring to the fine powdery coating on its body that helps regulate temperature.