Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee vs Yellow Hornet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee Yellow Hornet
Scientific Name Megachile willughbiella Vespa simillima
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Megachilidae Vespidae
Size 12-16 mm 21-28 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, Central Asia East Asia, Japan/Korea
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.

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Did You Know?

Females have been recorded cutting leaf pieces from over 20 different plant species to construct a single nest.

Yellow Hornet

Known as 'ke-buchi-suzumebachi' in Japanese, a common hornet in Japan and Korea. Builds large paper nests in trees and under eaves. Less aggressive than the giant hornet but still capable of painful stings.

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Did You Know?

This species is responsible for more wasp stings in Japan than any other species because it frequently builds nests near human habitations.