Pearly-banded Bee vs Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pearly-banded Bee | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nomia melanderi | Papilio glaucus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Halictidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 8-10 mm | 79-140 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pearly-banded Bee
A ground-nesting bee with pearly white abdominal bands vital for alfalfa pollination. Large nesting aggregations in alkaline soils can contain millions of individuals.
Did You Know?
Farmers in the Pacific Northwest actively manage nesting sites to boost alfalfa seed yields.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
A large yellow butterfly with bold black tiger stripes and blue and orange markings on the hindwing margins. Females can occur in a dark morph mimicking the toxic pipevine swallowtail.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar has large false eyespots and can evert an orange forked gland called an osmeterium that emits a foul smell to deter predators.