Columbine Sawfly vs Western Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Columbine Sawfly | Western Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pristiphora aquilegiae | Bombus occidentalis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Apidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 10-22 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Mountains |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, introduced to North America | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
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.
Did You Know?
Larvae feed from the leaf edges inward and can reduce a columbine plant to bare stems and leaf ribs within days.
Western Bumble Bee
A once-common bumble bee of western North America that has experienced dramatic population declines since the late 1990s. They nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows.
Did You Know?
Their catastrophic decline is linked to a pathogen accidentally spread through commercial bumble bee rearing facilities.