Mason Wasp vs Mountain Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mason Wasp Mountain Bumblebee
Scientific Name Ancistrocerus nigricornis Bombus monticola
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Apidae
Size 10-14 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Underground Mountains
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, alpine regions of Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mason Wasp

A small black and yellow solitary wasp that nests in pre-existing holes and hollow stems. It provisions each cell with paralyzed moth caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It readily uses artificial bee hotels, making it one of the easiest solitary wasps to attract to gardens.

Mountain Bumblebee

A colorful bumblebee with bright red-orange tail, yellow thorax bands, and a black midriff. It is found at high altitudes and latitudes where it is an important pollinator. Queens are among the earliest bees to emerge.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can forage in driving rain and near-gale winds that keep other pollinating insects grounded.