The body length of a honeybee is about 2.14 times the body length of a housefly. Selected basis: a representative value for Honeybee; a representative value for Housefly; approximate values.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
1.5 cm - Body length; representative; range 1 cm–1.5 cm.
A honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
A 15 mm worker honeybee (Apis mellifera), at the upper end of the cited 10–15 mm worker range. Body length excludes antennae, legs and wings. The 100 mg mass is a separate illustrative assumption.
University of Michigan — Apis mellifera7 mm - Body length; representative.
A housefly is a common flying insect often found near human habitation and associated with transmitting diseases.
A chosen 7 mm housefly body. Legs and wings extend beyond the measured span.
Defined examples — our methodology
There’s always another scale
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Living thingsHousefly7 mmA housefly is a common flying insect often found near human habitation and associated with transmitting diseases.
Everyday thingsUS quarter2.426 cmA US quarter is a coin worth twenty-five cents, commonly used in United States currency.
Living thingsSmall ant5 mmAn ant is a social insect that lives in an organised colony, usually with workers, a queen and specialised roles.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
MicroscopicCell10 µmA cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?