Sharp-tailed Bee vs Gypsy Moth Tachinid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sharp-tailed Bee | Gypsy Moth Tachinid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coelioxys conoidea | Compsilura concinnata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Tachinidae |
| Size | 12-15 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa | Europe, North America, Asia |
| 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.
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.
Gypsy Moth Tachinid
A parasitic fly introduced to North America from Europe to control gypsy moths. It has an extremely broad host range attacking over 200 insect species.
Did You Know?
Its introduction to North America is now considered a mistake because it devastated native silk moth populations.