Hunt's Bumble Bee vs Cuckoo Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hunt's Bumble Bee Cuckoo Wasp
Scientific Name Bombus huntii Chrysis ignita
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Chrysididae
Size 12-18 mm 6-12 mm
Habitat Meadows Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Western North America from British Columbia to Mexico Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hunt's Bumble Bee

A medium-sized bumble bee with orange, black, and yellow banding commonly found in the western United States. It is an important pollinator of both wildflowers and crops.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few bumble bee species that has maintained stable populations while many others have declined.

Cuckoo Wasp

A stunning metallic jewel-toned wasp that lays eggs in other wasps nests. Can curl into an armored ball when attacked. Its iridescent colors are among the most vivid in nature.

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Did You Know?

Cuckoo wasps have an armored concave underside — when discovered by the host wasp, they curl into a perfect shiny ball that the host cannot sting through.