Columbine Sawfly vs Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Columbine Sawfly Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Scientific Name Pristiphora aquilegiae Bombus terrestris
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Apidae
Size 5-7 mm 11-22 mm
Habitat Gardens Farmland
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, introduced to North America Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Columbine Sawfly

A small, dark sawfly whose pale green larvae feed on the leaves of columbine plants. Larvae can cause significant damage in flower gardens.

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Did You Know?

Larvae feed from the leaf edges inward and can reduce a columbine plant to bare stems and leaf ribs within days.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

A large, familiar bumblebee with black fur, a yellow collar, a yellow abdominal band, and a distinctive buff-white tail. It is one of the most important commercial pollinators in Europe.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can learn to pull strings to access food and then teach the technique to other bees, demonstrating a form of cultural transmission.