Sandpit Mining Bee vs Doris Longwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sandpit Mining Bee Doris Longwing
Scientific Name Andrena barbilabris Heliconius doris
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Andrenidae Nymphalidae
Size 10-13 mm 65-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Northern Asia South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sandpit Mining Bee

A pale, sandy-colored mining bee that specializes in nesting in loose sandy soils. It is commonly found in sand pits, coastal dunes, and sandy heaths.

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Did You Know?

Its pale sandy coloring provides excellent camouflage against the light soils where it nests, making it nearly invisible when resting.

Doris Longwing

A highly variable Heliconius butterfly that occurs in multiple color forms including blue, red, and green morphs. All forms share the same basic wing shape but differ dramatically in color pattern. It inhabits the understory of dense tropical forests.

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Did You Know?

A single population can contain blue, red, and green color morphs, all controlled by a single genetic switch, making it a model for studying wing pattern evolution.