Large Garden Bumble Bee vs Banded Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Garden Bumble Bee | Banded Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus ruderatus | Papilio demolion |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 14-24 mm | 80-110 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Orchards |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, New Zealand, South America | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Borneo, Philippines) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Banded Swallowtail
A medium-large swallowtail with dark brown-black wings bearing a broad pale greenish-yellow band across both forewings and hindwings. The hindwings have a short, spatula-shaped tail.
Did You Know?
Males often gather in large numbers at muddy puddles to obtain dissolved minerals, a behavior known as mud-puddling.