Nocturnal Sweat Bee vs Steelblue Jewel Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nocturnal Sweat Bee Steelblue Jewel Beetle
Scientific Name Megalopta genalis Phaenops cyanea
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Halictidae Buprestidae
Size 10-12 mm 7-12mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Central America, South America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nocturnal Sweat Bee

One of few bees adapted to forage in near-total darkness in tropical forests.

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Did You Know?

Its enlarged ocelli give it visual sensitivity 30 times greater than day-active bees.

Steelblue Jewel Beetle

A compact dark metallic blue-green beetle that attacks stressed pine trees. It has infrared sensors that detect forest fires from great distances.

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Did You Know?

It possesses infrared pit organs on its thorax that can detect forest fires from over 80 kilometers away.