Small Carpenter Bee vs Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Carpenter Bee | Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceratina calcarata | Episyrphus balteatus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Apidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 5–8 mm | 7-12 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Small Carpenter Bee
A tiny metallic blue-green bee that nests in the pithy stems of broken twigs. It is one of the few bee species showing rudimentary social behavior.
Did You Know?
Mothers guard their nests and feed their developing larvae with pollen, a behavior rare among solitary bees.
Hoverfly
Excellent Batesian mimics of wasps and bees. Important pollinators often overlooked. Can hover perfectly stationary in mid-air and even fly backwards.
Did You Know?
Hoverflies are so skilled at hovering that they can maintain their exact position in space even in strong winds, adjusting wing beats up to 300 times per second.