Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp vs Cuckoo Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp Cuckoo Bumblebee
Scientific Name Chrysis succincta Bombus vestalis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Chrysididae Apidae
Size 5-9 mm 15-22mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Parasites
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp

A medium-sized cuckoo wasp with a metallic green forebody and a warm coppery-gold abdomen. It parasitizes the nests of cavity-nesting solitary bees.

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Did You Know?

Its heavy, pitted exoskeleton acts like armor plating, protecting it from the stings of host wasps defending their nests.

Cuckoo Bumblebee

A social parasite that invades buff-tailed bumblebee nests, kills the queen and enslaves the workers.

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Did You Know?

Enters the nest of its host species, fights and kills the queen, then forces the workers to raise her own offspring.