Blue Ant vs Garden Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Ant Garden Bumblebee
Scientific Name Diamma bicolor Bombus hortorum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tiphiidae Apidae
Size 20-25 mm 12-22mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Australia, Oceania Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Ant

Despite its name, the Blue Ant is actually a wingless flower wasp, not an ant. Females are metallic blue-green with a powerful sting and are commonly seen running across the ground in search of mole cricket larvae.

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Did You Know?

The wingless female resembles a large ant, while the smaller winged male looks like a completely different insect.

Garden Bumblebee

A long-tongued bumblebee with three yellow bands and a white tail. Specializes in deep tubular flowers.

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Did You Know?

Has the longest tongue of any common bumblebee species, allowing it to access nectar in deep tubular flowers.