Silvery Leafcutter Bee vs Bedstraw Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Silvery Leafcutter Bee Bedstraw Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Megachile leachella Hyles gallii
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Megachilidae Sphingidae
Size 9-12 mm 55-75 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, North America, northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Silvery Leafcutter Bee

A coastal specialist bee with silvery-white hair on the underside of the abdomen. It nests in sandy ground near the coast.

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Did You Know?

It lines its nest cells with cut pieces of petals rather than leaves, unlike most leafcutter bees.

Bedstraw Hawk Moth

A striking hawk moth with olive-green forewings bearing a buff median band and pink hindwings. It is a migratory species found across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Did You Know?

The bedstraw hawk moth has one of the most extensive ranges of any hawk moth, found from Scandinavia to Japan and across much of North America.