Blackthorn Mining Bee vs Blue Iris

Andrena varians compared with Iris spuria

Key Differences

Blackthorn Mining Bee is Least Concern while Blue Iris is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Blue Iris
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Mantodea (Mantodea)
Family	Andrenidae	Eremiaphilidae
Genus	Andrena	Iris
Species	Andrena varians	Iris spuria

Evolutionary Relationship

Blackthorn Mining Bee and Blue Iris share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

View Class: Insecta

Conservation Status

Blackthorn Mining Bee

LC — Least Concern

Blue Iris

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Blue Iris
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blackthorn Mining Bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Blue Iris

Habitat

Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (9 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Blackthorn Mining Bee

The Blackthorn Mining Bee (Andrena varians) is a species in the genus Andrena. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Distributed across Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Blue Iris

The Blue Iris (Iris spuria) is a species in the genus Iris. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.