Colletid bee vs Common Yellow-face Bee

Hylaeus pictipes compared with Hylaeus communis

Key Differences

• Colletid bee is Extinct while Common Yellow-face Bee is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Colletid bee	Common Yellow-face Bee
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)
Class same	Insecta (Insekten)	Insecta (Insekten)
Order same	Hymenoptera (Hautflügler)	Hymenoptera (Hautflügler)
Family same	Colletidae	Colletidae
Genus same	Hylaeus	Hylaeus
Species	Hylaeus pictipes	Hylaeus communis

Evolutionary Relationship

Colletid bee and Common Yellow-face Bee share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Hylaeus.

Conservation Status

Colletid bee

EX — Extinct

Common Yellow-face Bee

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Colletid bee	Common Yellow-face Bee
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 Yellow-face Bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, 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 Yellow-face Bee

<em>Hylaeus communis</em>, the common yellow-face bee, is a small solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It is widely distributed across much of Europe and western Asia, where it is one of the most frequently encountered members of its genus. The species inhabits a broad range of open and semi-open habitats including gardens, meadows, hedgerows, heathlands, and woodland edges, often nesting in existing cavities such as hollow plant stems, galls, and old beetle burrows. Adults are small, typically 6–8 mm in length, and are characterized by yellow facial markings on an otherwise black body, the pattern being more extensive in males than females. Biological traits such as average lifespan, precise body weight, and detailed population estimates remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Unlike many bees, <em>Hylaeus</em> species lack specialized pollen-carrying structures; instead, they transport pollen and nectar internally in their crop. Adults visit a wide variety of flowers for food and are considered polylectic generalists. <em>Hylaeus communis</em> is assessed as Least Concern, reflecting its broad distribution and tolerance of diverse habitats, though it may be affected by loss of nesting sites and floral diversity in intensively managed landscapes.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden