Toadflax Stem Weevil vs Two-coloured Mason Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Toadflax Stem Weevil Two-coloured Mason Bee
Scientific Name Mecinus janthinus Osmia bicolor
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Curculionidae Megachilidae
Size 3-4 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Toadflax Stem Weevil

A dark metallic blue-purple weevil that feeds on toadflax species. Successfully used as a biological control agent for invasive Dalmatian toadflax in North America.

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Did You Know?

Released in North America as biological control, where it has successfully suppressed invasive Dalmatian toadflax.

Two-coloured Mason Bee

A distinctive bee with a black head and thorax and bright orange abdominal hair. It uniquely nests inside empty snail shells on chalk grasslands.

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Did You Know?

After filling a snail shell with pollen and eggs, the female camouflages it by piling grass and plant stems over it.