Sweat Bee of the Desert vs Spangle Gall Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sweat Bee of the Desert Spangle Gall Wasp
Scientific Name Lasioglossum titusi Neuroterus quercusbaccarum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Halictidae Cynipidae
Size 5-8 mm 1.5–2.5 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Sweat Bee of the Desert

A small metallic green bee found in arid regions of western North America. It nests communally in sandy desert soil.

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Did You Know?

It is attracted to human sweat for the salt it contains, which is scarce in desert environments.

Spangle Gall Wasp

A tiny gall wasp that produces flat, disc-shaped spangle galls on the undersides of oak leaves. It alternates between two distinct gall forms across generations.

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Did You Know?

A single oak leaf may carry over a hundred spangle galls, yet the tree suffers minimal harm.