Dark-edged Bee-fly vs Apache Paper Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dark-edged Bee-fly | Apache Paper Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombylius major discolor | Polistes apachus |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 8-12mm | 18-25 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Southwestern United States and northern Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dark-edged Bee-fly
A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.
Did You Know?
Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.
Apache Paper Wasp
A large paper wasp of the American Southwest with yellow and reddish-brown coloring. It constructs open paper comb nests in sheltered locations like building overhangs.
Did You Know?
It is one of the largest paper wasps in North America and is particularly common around desert homes and ranch buildings.