Anthracite Bee-fly vs Colletid bee

Anthrax anthrax compared with Hylaeus pictipes

Key Differences

• Anthracite Bee-fly is Least Concern while Colletid bee is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Anthracite Bee-fly	Colletid bee
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)
Family	Bombyliidae	Colletidae
Genus	Anthrax	Hylaeus
Species	Anthrax anthrax	Hylaeus pictipes

Evolutionary Relationship

Anthracite Bee-fly and Colletid bee share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Anthracite Bee-fly

LC — Least Concern

Colletid bee

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Anthracite Bee-fly	Colletid bee
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.

Colletid bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (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.

Colletid bee

<em>Hylaeus pictipes</em>, commonly known as the Colletid bee, is a species belonging to the genus <em>Hylaeus</em> within the family Colletidae, one of the most ancient lineages of bees. This species is classified as Extinct, signifying that no living individuals are known to survive. Historical records indicate its former presence across several European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. The species is noted to have been capable of occupying virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats, suggesting considerable ecological flexibility during its existence. Colletid bees in this genus are typically solitary, with females provisioning individual nest cells with a mixture of pollen and nectar rather than collectively forming colonies. Specific dietary information for <em>Hylaeus pictipes</em> beyond general nectivory and pollen collection has not been recorded. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The loss of this species reflects broader declines in native bee diversity across Europe, driven by habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and other anthropogenic pressures.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden