European Hornet vs Boreal Bumblebee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Hornet | Boreal Bumblebee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vespa crabro | Bombus borealis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Apidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm | 12-17 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Heathland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Northern Canada, Alaska, boreal regions of the northern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
European Hornet
The largest European wasp, with a brown and yellow striped body and reddish-brown head and thorax. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is relatively docile for a social wasp.
Did You Know?
European hornets are one of the few wasp species that actively hunt at night, attracted to lights where they capture other insects.
Boreal Bumblebee
A medium-sized bumblebee with yellow bands on the thorax and a white-tipped abdomen. It nests underground in abandoned rodent burrows. Workers are efficient foragers in the cool northern climate.
Did You Know?
This bumblebee has an unusually long tongue for its body size, allowing it to access nectar from deep tubular flowers that other bees cannot reach.