Sharp-tailed Bee vs Giant Grey Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sharp-tailed Bee Giant Grey Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Coelioxys conoidea Agrius cingulata
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Megachilidae Sphingidae
Size 12-15 mm 95-130 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Parasites Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, North Africa Americas (from southern United States to Argentina), occasional migrant to Europe and Africa
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Sharp-tailed Bee

A cleptoparasitic bee with a sharply pointed abdomen used to pierce the cell walls of leafcutter bee nests. Females lay their eggs directly into provisioned host cells.

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Did You Know?

The female's dagger-like abdomen tip is so sharp it can slice through multiple layers of leaf cell walls to deposit an egg.

Giant Grey Hawk Moth

A massive hawk moth with gray-streaked forewings and a pink and black banded abdomen. It is one of the largest and fastest-flying sphinx moths in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Agrius cingulata is such a powerful flier that individuals from the Americas occasionally cross the Atlantic Ocean and turn up in western Europe.