Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly vs Horned Mason Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly Horned Mason Bee
Scientific Name Xyela minor Osmia cornuta
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Xyelidae Megachilidae
Size 3-4 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Forests Orchards
Diet Pollen Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions North America Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly

A tiny sawfly with the characteristic elongated third antennal segment of its ancient family. Adults emerge in early spring to coincide with pine pollen release.

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Did You Know?

Xyelid sawflies time their adult emergence precisely to the few weeks when pine male cones are shedding pollen, their larvae's only food source.

Horned Mason Bee

A robust spring-flying bee with distinctive horn-like projections on the female's face. It is widely used as a managed pollinator in European fruit orchards.

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Did You Know?

It is three times more efficient at pollinating almond flowers than the honeybee.