Blue Cuckoo Wasp vs Early Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Cuckoo Wasp Early Bumblebee
Scientific Name Trichrysis cyanea Bombus pratorum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Chrysididae Apidae
Size 5-8 mm 9-16mm
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Wood Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Cuckoo Wasp

A uniformly deep blue metallic cuckoo wasp found across Europe and Asia. It parasitizes various cavity-nesting wasps and bees in dead wood and walls.

💡

Did You Know?

Its entirely blue coloration without any red or gold makes it one of the most distinctive cuckoo wasps in Europe.

Early Bumblebee

A small bumblebee with yellow collar, yellow midriff band and an orange tail. One of the first to appear in spring.

💡

Did You Know?

One of the earliest bumblebees to appear each year, sometimes seen as early as February on mild days.