Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly vs Blunthorn Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly | Blunthorn Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Profenusa thomsoni | Melitta haemorrhoidalis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, introduced to North America | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
A tiny black sawfly whose larvae create distinctive blotch mines within birch leaves. Mined leaves develop brown, papery patches.
Did You Know?
Heavy infestations can cause over 80 percent of birch leaves to become mined, giving trees a scorched appearance by late summer.
Blunthorn Bee
A late-summer specialist bee that collects pollen almost exclusively from bellflowers. It has a distinctively short tongue for a melittid bee.
Did You Know?
Females often become completely dusted in blue bellflower pollen, giving them a striking violet-tinged appearance.