Colletid bee vs common sea hare

Hylaeus pictipes compared with Aplysia punctata

Key Differences

• Colletid bee is Extinct while common sea hare is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Colletid bee	common sea hare
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)
Family	Colletidae	Aplysiidae
Genus	Hylaeus	Aplysia
Species	Hylaeus pictipes	Aplysia punctata

Evolutionary Relationship

Colletid bee and common sea hare share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Colletid bee

EX — Extinct

common sea hare

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Colletid bee	common sea hare
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Colletid bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

common sea hare

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

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.

common sea hare

<em>Aplysia punctata</em>, the common sea hare, is a large opisthobranch sea slug in the family Aplysiidae, order Aplysiida, found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. This species typically inhabits shallow subtidal and intertidal zones with abundant macroalgae, feeding primarily on red and green algae — a diet that influences the color of the defensive purple ink it secretes when threatened. <em>Aplysia punctata</em> is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, capable of acting as both male and female during mating, and often forms mating chains involving multiple individuals. It can reach considerable size among European opisthobranch species, though body dimensions vary considerably with age and feeding conditions. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting stable populations across its coastal range. Biological traits for this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, including precise average data on lifespan, body length, weight, and detailed seasonal dietary patterns, though its general herbivorous feeding on macroalgae is well established.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden