Golden Northern Bumble Bee vs Banded Ichneumon

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden Northern Bumble Bee Banded Ichneumon
Scientific Name Bombus fervidus Ichneumon xanthorius
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Ichneumonidae
Size 14-20 mm 14-18 mm
Habitat Farmland Gardens
Diet Nectar Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Northern and central United States and southern Canada Europe
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Golden Northern Bumble Bee

A large bumble bee with an almost entirely yellow-furred thorax and anterior abdomen. It is a generalist pollinator found across much of North America.

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Did You Know?

Queens can survive winter temperatures by producing glycerol in their blood, which acts as a natural antifreeze.

Banded Ichneumon

A boldly patterned black-and-yellow parasitoid wasp commonly found in European gardens. It parasitizes large moth caterpillars that pupate in soil.

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Did You Know?

Despite its wasp-like warning colors, it rarely stings and is harmless to humans.