South American Wattle Sawfly vs European Oil Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Wattle Sawfly European Oil Bee
Scientific Name Arge pullata Macropis europaea
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Argidae Melittidae
Size 7-10 mm 9-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Africa Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

South American Wattle Sawfly

A shiny black argid sawfly that feeds on wattle (Acacia) trees. Larvae are green with dark dorsal markings and can cause significant defoliation.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the relatively few argid sawflies found in Africa, where the family is less diverse than in other continents.

European Oil Bee

One of only two Northern Hemisphere bees that collect floral oils instead of nectar as a food provision. It collects oils from yellow loosestrife flowers.

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Did You Know?

It mixes collected floral oil with pollen to create a waterproof, long-lasting larval food that resists mold in its damp underground nests.