Common Eastern Bumble Bee vs Red-banded Hairstreak

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Eastern Bumble Bee Red-banded Hairstreak
Scientific Name Bombus impatiens Calycopis cecrops
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Apidae Lycaenidae
Size 8-23 mm 22-30 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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Did You Know?

It can perform buzz pollination by vibrating its flight muscles at a specific frequency to shake pollen from flowers like tomatoes.

Red-banded Hairstreak

Small dark butterfly with a prominent red-orange postmedian band on the underside. Hindwings bear false head pattern with tails.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae are detritivores, uniquely feeding on decomposing fallen leaves rather than live foliage.