Greenland Copper vs Large Garden Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Greenland Copper | Large Garden Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lycaena phlaeas polaris | Bombus ruderatus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Apidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm wingspan | 14-24 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Greenland, Iceland, Arctic Scandinavia | Europe, New Zealand, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Greenland Copper
The Arctic subspecies of the small copper butterfly, smaller and darker than its temperate counterparts. The forewings are bright copper-orange with dark spots. It is one of few butterflies found in southern Greenland.
Did You Know?
The Greenland population is believed to have survived the last Ice Age in a coastal refugium, making it a true glacial relict.
Large Garden Bumble Bee
A long-tongued bumble bee introduced to New Zealand in the early 1900s to pollinate red clover. They have one of the longest tongues of any bumble bee species.
Did You Know?
They were intentionally shipped from England to New Zealand because they were the only bees with tongues long enough to pollinate red clover.