Whitefly vs European Melittid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Whitefly European Melittid
Scientific Name Bemisia tabaci Melitta leporina
Order Hemiptera Hymenoptera
Family Aleyrodidae Melittidae
Size 1-1.5 mm 11-14 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Sap Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Cosmopolitan in warm regions Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Whitefly

A tiny sap-sucking insect that transmits over 100 plant viruses worldwide. It is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in tropical and subtropical regions.

💡

Did You Know?

It is actually a complex of over 40 cryptic species that are morphologically nearly identical.

European Melittid

A medium-sized oligolectic bee that specializes on legume flowers, particularly alfalfa and clovers. It nests in the ground in sparsely vegetated areas.

💡

Did You Know?

It is so efficient at collecting clover pollen that a single bee can visit over 1,000 florets in a single foraging trip.