Resin Bee vs Small Postman

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Resin Bee Small Postman
Scientific Name Megachile campanulae Heliconius erato
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Megachilidae Nymphalidae
Size 10-14 mm 55-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America South America, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Resin Bee

A solitary bee that collects plant resins and sap to construct its brood cells.

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Did You Know?

It builds cell partitions from plant resin mixed with tiny pebbles.

Small Postman

A neotropical butterfly with black wings and vivid red, yellow, or white bands depending on the geographic race. It is a classic example of Mullerian mimicry.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly and its co-mimic Heliconius melpomene have become one of the most important model systems for studying the genetics of adaptation.