Common Eastern Bumble Bee vs Citrus Mealybug Encyrtid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Eastern Bumble Bee | Citrus Mealybug Encyrtid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus impatiens | Leptomastix dactylopii |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Encyrtidae |
| Size | 8-23 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Orchards |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Eastern North America | South America, Mediterranean, Worldwide (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
A robust fuzzy bumble bee with a black body and yellow thoracic band that is widely used as a commercial greenhouse pollinator. It is the most abundant bumble bee in eastern North America.
Did You Know?
It can perform buzz pollination by vibrating its flight muscles at a specific frequency to shake pollen from flowers like tomatoes.
Citrus Mealybug Encyrtid
A solitary parasitoid wasp specific to citrus mealybugs, used globally in greenhouse biological control. Adults are slender with iridescent wings and long antennae.
Did You Know?
A single female can parasitize up to 100 mealybugs in her lifetime, making her a potent biological control agent.