Wool Carder Bee vs Dotted Bee Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wool Carder Bee | Dotted Bee Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthidium manicatum | Bombylius discolor |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Bombyliidae |
| Size | 10-17 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | Europe |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Males have five sharp spines on their abdomen that they use to body-slam intruding bees.
Dotted Bee Fly
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur coat. Its larvae parasitize mining bee larvae of the genus Andrena.
Did You Know?
It appears only in spring for a few weeks, closely tracking the flight season of its specific Andrena bee hosts.