Garden Bumblebee vs Dawson's Burrowing Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Garden Bumblebee Dawson's Burrowing Bee
Scientific Name Bombus hortorum Amegilla dawsoni
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Apidae
Size 12-22mm 18-24 mm
Habitat Underground Heathland
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Western Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Garden Bumblebee

A long-tongued bumblebee with three yellow bands and a white tail. Specializes in deep tubular flowers.

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Did You Know?

Has the longest tongue of any common bumblebee species, allowing it to access nectar in deep tubular flowers.

Dawson's Burrowing Bee

A large solitary bee endemic to Western Australia that nests in massive aggregations in hardpan clay. Males engage in violent aerial combat to mate with emerging females.

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Did You Know?

Male combat is so fierce that individuals frequently die from injuries sustained during mating battles.