Striped Seedcorn Beetle vs Hairy-legged Mining Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Striped Seedcorn Beetle | Hairy-legged Mining Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Agonoderus lecontei | Melitta tricincta |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 9-11 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Striped Seedcorn Beetle
A small, pale brown ground beetle with darker stripes on its elytra. It is sometimes a minor pest of germinating corn and other crop seeds, though it also eats many weed seeds.
Did You Know?
While it occasionally damages germinating crop seeds, studies show it consumes far more weed seeds, so its net economic impact on agriculture is actually beneficial.
Hairy-legged Mining Bee
A rare and declining bee that is a strict specialist on red bartsia flowers. It has distinctive hairy hind legs used for carrying the wet, sticky pollen of its host plant.
Did You Know?
Its complete dependence on a single semi-parasitic plant species makes it one of the most ecologically specialized bees in Europe.