Tawny Mining Bee vs Vine Mealybug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tawny Mining Bee Vine Mealybug
Scientific Name Andrena fulva Planococcus ficus
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Andrenidae Pseudococcidae
Size 8-14 mm 2-4 mm
Habitat Gardens Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe Mediterranean, California, South Africa, South America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Tawny Mining Bee

A solitary bee covered in dense bright orange-brown fur that gives it a foxy appearance. Females excavate individual nest burrows in lawns and garden paths each spring.

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Did You Know?

Each female digs her own nest burrow up to 30 centimeters deep and provisions several underground chambers with pollen balls, each topped with a single egg.

Vine Mealybug

A pink-bodied mealybug covered in white wax that has become a major pest of vineyards worldwide. It feeds on vine roots, trunks, and fruit clusters, transmitting grapevine leafroll virus.

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Did You Know?

It can hide under bark and in root crevices, making it nearly impossible to reach with contact insecticides.