Common Wasp-Mimic Bee

Common Wasp-Mimic Bee

Hyleoides concinna

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Auckland

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

17 Verified sightings at Auckland
6 In 1 park From 2019 to 2026
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Common Wasp-Mimic Bee

Hyleoides concinna, the common wasp-mimic bee, is a species of solitary bee in the family Colletidae. It was first described in 1775 by Johan Christian Fabricius, who mistook it for a wasp. It is native to south-eastern Australia, and has accidentally been introduced to New Zealand. The abdomen is orange and black on top, with a yellow band underneath. Nests are constructed in pre-existing cavities in wood, such as the tunnels produced by longhorn beetle larvae. It collects nectar and pollen from a wide range of flowering plant species.

The common wasp-mimic bee was first described by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius, who (believing it to be a wasp) named it Vespa concinna in 1775. The specific name (concinna) is a Latin word meaning "beautiful". The holotype specimen is a female, which is stored in the Natural History Museum, London. It was collected by Joseph Banks during the first voyage of James Cook. This expedition was the first time Europeans had visited the eastern coastline of Australia.

The common wasp-mimic bee has evolved several features that make it look like a potter wasp. These features include a bold colour pattern, partly... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Auckland 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
2 Melbourne 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
3 Sydney 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee in Auckland?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee sighting in Auckland on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 311th most-seen of the 689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee in Auckland?

January–February, April–June and November

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee in Auckland on a given day, against under 5% in March, July–October and December, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Wasp-Mimic Bee sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Auckland the best place to see a Common Wasp-Mimic Bee?

Yes

Of the 3 cities where we can rate Common Wasp-Mimic Bee sightings, Auckland has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Melbourne (Australia, under 5%) and Sydney (Australia, under 5%).

Where does the Common Wasp-Mimic Bee sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Wasp-Mimic Bee is recorded against all the insects logged in Auckland (17 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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