Wool Carder Bee vs Common House Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wool Carder Bee Common House Fly
Scientific Name Anthidium manicatum Musca domestica
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Megachilidae Muscidae
Size 10-17 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wool Carder Bee

A robust yellow-and-black solitary bee whose females scrape plant hairs to line their nests. Males are territorial and aggressively patrol flower patches, even attacking bumblebees.

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Did You Know?

Males have five sharp spines on their abdomen that they use to body-slam intruding bees.

Common House Fly

One of the most widely distributed insects on Earth. Can taste with their feet, which have chemoreceptors. Capable of rapid reproduction with complete lifecycle in 7-10 days.

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Did You Know?

House flies taste with their feet — they have over 100 taste receptors on each foot and can detect sugar just by landing on a surface.