Banchine Wasp vs Northern Bumblebee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banchine Wasp | Northern Bumblebee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Banchus falcatorius | Bombus hyperboreus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Apidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 18-24 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, Central Asia | Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Arctic Russia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banchine Wasp
A stout black-and-yellow ichneumon wasp that mimics social wasps in appearance. It is a solitary parasitoid of moth larvae feeding on low-growing plants.
Did You Know?
Its bold yellow-and-black pattern is a convincing mimic of common social wasps, deterring predators.
Northern Bumblebee
A very large, heavily furred bumblebee with orange and black coloring. It is a social parasite that takes over colonies of Bombus polaris. Queens are notably larger than their host species.
Did You Know?
This is the most northerly bumblebee in the world and is a cuckoo bee that kills or subjugates Bombus polaris queens to take over their nests.