Willow Bean-Gall Sawfly vs Japanese Carpenter Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Willow Bean-Gall Sawfly Japanese Carpenter Bee
Scientific Name Pontania proxima Xylocopa appendiculata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Apidae
Size 3-5 mm 20-25 mm
Habitat Wetlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia East Asia, Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Willow Bean-Gall Sawfly

A tiny sawfly that induces distinctive bean-shaped galls on the leaves of various willow species. Each gall contains a single larva feeding on internal gall tissue.

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Did You Know?

The gall-inducing chemicals secreted by the larva redirect the plant's growth to create a nutrient-rich chamber specifically for the larva's benefit.

Japanese Carpenter Bee

A large, robust carpenter bee known as 'kumabachi' (bear bee) in Japanese due to its fuzzy appearance. Builds nests by boring tunnels into dead wood. An important pollinator of many plants.

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Did You Know?

Despite their intimidating buzz and large size, Japanese carpenter bees are generally docile, and males cannot sting at all.