Painted Bee Fly vs Desert Digger Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Painted Bee Fly | Desert Digger Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemipenthes morio | Centris pallida |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Apidae |
| Size | 7-12 mm | 15-22 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Painted Bee Fly
A dark-bodied bee fly with characteristic half-blackened wings that give it a distinctive silhouette. It is commonly seen sunbathing on bare patches of ground in warm habitats.
Did You Know?
It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning its larvae parasitize the parasites of other insects.
Desert Digger Bee
A large, fuzzy solitary bee of the Sonoran Desert that nests in burrows in hard-packed soil. Males patrol nesting areas and dig up emerging females to mate.
Did You Know?
Males locate females still underground by detecting their scent through the soil surface.