Arctic Bumblebee vs Rose-stem Gall Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Bumblebee Rose-stem Gall Wasp
Scientific Name Bombus polaris Diplolepis spinosa
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Cynipidae
Size 15-22 mm 2–3.5 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Meadows
Diet Nectar Feeders Gall Makers
Regions Canadian Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, Siberia North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Arctic Bumblebee

A large, densely furred bumblebee with yellow and black banding adapted to extreme cold. Its thick pile of hair provides superior insulation. Queens emerge from hibernation as soon as snow melts.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can maintain its flight muscle temperature at 30 degrees Celsius even when the air temperature is near freezing, thanks to its exceptional insulation.

Rose-stem Gall Wasp

A gall wasp that creates spiny galls on the stems of wild roses in North America. Each gall contains a single larval cell surrounded by hard woody tissue.

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Did You Know?

Its galls often persist on rose stems for years after the wasp has emerged, serving as shelter for other insects.