Anthracite Bee-fly vs Climbing Bindweed

Anthrax anthrax compared with Fallopia scandens

Key Differences

Anthracite Bee-fly is Least Concern while Climbing Bindweed is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Anthracite Bee-fly	Climbing Bindweed
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Bombyliidae	Polygonaceae
Genus	Anthrax	Fallopia
Species	Anthrax anthrax	Fallopia scandens

Conservation Status

Anthracite Bee-fly

LC — Least Concern

Climbing Bindweed

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Anthracite Bee-fly	Climbing Bindweed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Anthracite Bee-fly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Climbing Bindweed

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Canada, Norway, and United States.

Anthracite Bee-fly

The Anthracite Bee-fly (Anthrax anthrax) is a species in the genus Anthrax. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Climbing Bindweed

Climbing Bindweed, Calystegia sepium or related Convolvulus species in the family Convolvulaceae, is a vigorous twining perennial vine native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, widely naturalized in disturbed habitats worldwide. The species climbs over hedgerows, fences, tall herbs, and shrubs by twining its flexible stems counterclockwise around supporting structures, sometimes smothering vegetation under dense leafy growth. The leaves are broadly arrow-shaped or hastate, and the funnel-shaped flowers are large, white to pale pink, and open during daylight hours. Like its relatives, Climbing Bindweed has deeply buried, extensively spreading rhizomes that are extremely difficult to eradicate once established. The extensive root system enables survival of herbicide treatments and mechanical disturbance, making the species a persistent weed in gardens, agricultural land, and riparian habitats. Despite its weedy character, the flowers provide nectar for bumblebees and are visited by hawk moths at dusk. The species is not threatened globally; it is considered common and often invasive across temperate regions. It has considerable cultural significance, appearing frequently in art and folklore as a symbol of persistence and entanglement.