Blackthorn Mining Bee vs Common Glasscup

Andrena varians compared with Orbilia xanthostigma

Key Differences

• Blackthorn Mining Bee is Least Concern while Common Glasscup is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Common Glasscup
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Orbiliomycetes (Orbiliomycetes)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Orbiliales (Orbiliales)
Family	Andrenidae	Orbiliaceae
Genus	Andrena	Orbilia
Species	Andrena varians	Orbilia xanthostigma

Conservation Status

Blackthorn Mining Bee

LC — Least Concern

Common Glasscup

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Common Glasscup
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.

Common Glasscup

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Common Glasscup

<em>Orbilia xanthostigma</em>, commonly known as the common glasscup, is a saprotrophic fungus in the family Orbiliaceae. The species has been documented in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and is understood to have a broader distribution across temperate Europe. Fungi in the genus <em>Orbilia</em> are characterized by their small, typically pale or brightly colored, cup-shaped to disc-shaped fruiting bodies (apothecia) that form on decaying wood and plant matter. <em>Orbilia xanthostigma</em> typically grows on the surface of dead and decaying wood, including logs and fallen branches in forest and woodland habitats. The species is not currently evaluated for conservation status. As a saprotrophic organism, the common glasscup contributes to decomposition processes and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems by breaking down woody substrates. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The genus <em>Orbilia</em> is also notable within mycology for including species that are predatory on nematodes, though the dietary habits of <em>O. xanthostigma</em> specifically require further research.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden