Squash Bee vs Tobacco Flea Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Squash Bee | Tobacco Flea Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Peponapis pruinosa | Epitrix hirtipennis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 12-14 mm | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America, Central America | North America, Central America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Squash Bee
A solitary ground-nesting bee that specializes exclusively in pollinating squash, pumpkin, and gourd flowers. It begins foraging before dawn when cucurbit flowers first open.
Did You Know?
Males often sleep inside closed squash blossoms at night, occasionally getting trapped when the flower wilts.
Tobacco Flea Beetle
A tiny brownish beetle that creates small round holes in tobacco and other solanaceous crop leaves. Larval feeding on roots further weakens plants.
Did You Know?
Its feeding holes reduce the quality and market value of tobacco wrapper leaves used for cigars.