Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee vs Cape Honey Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee | Cape Honey Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megachile willughbiella | Apis mellifera capensis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Apidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | Workers 11-13 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Central Asia | South Africa (Western Cape, Eastern Cape) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee
A large, furry leafcutter bee common across Europe that nests in a variety of above-ground cavities. It is named after the 17th-century English naturalist Francis Willughby.
Did You Know?
Females have been recorded cutting leaf pieces from over 20 different plant species to construct a single nest.
Cape Honey Bee
A unique honey bee subspecies where workers can lay diploid female eggs without mating. It is restricted to the winter rainfall region of South Africa.
Did You Know?
Worker bees of this subspecies can clone themselves through a rare reproductive process called thelytokous parthenogenesis.