Sulphur Beetle vs Viper's Bugloss Mining Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sulphur Beetle Viper's Bugloss Mining Bee
Scientific Name Cteniopus sulphureus Andrena nasuta
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenebrionidae Andrenidae
Size 7-10mm 11-13 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Pollen Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Sulphur Beetle

A bright sulphur-yellow beetle that looks more like a flower beetle than a typical darkling beetle. It is common on coastal flowers in summer.

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Did You Know?

Despite belonging to the typically dark darkling beetle family it is one of the few members that is brightly colored.

Viper's Bugloss Mining Bee

A specialist mining bee with an elongated face adapted for feeding on tubular flowers, particularly viper's bugloss. It is found primarily in coastal and sandy habitats.

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Did You Know?

Its elongated face and tongue are so specialized for viper's bugloss flowers that it struggles to feed from most other flower shapes.