Garden Bumblebee vs Median Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Garden Bumblebee Median Wasp
Scientific Name Bombus hortorum Dolichovespula media
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Vespidae
Size 12-22mm 15-22 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Garden Bumblebee

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Median Wasp

A large social wasp that builds aerial paper nests in trees and shrubs across Europe. They are less aggressive than yellowjackets and colonies typically contain around 200 workers.

💡

Did You Know?

Their nests are beautifully layered with bands of different colored paper made from various wood sources.