Narrow-headed Ant vs Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Narrow-headed Ant | Rusty Patched Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Formica exsecta | Bombus affinis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Apidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 13-20 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | Upper Midwest and northeastern United States, now extremely restricted |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Critically Endangered |
Narrow-headed Ant
A bicolored red and black wood ant with a distinctly notched head. It builds low thatched mounds in open heathland and is declining across much of its European range.
Did You Know?
In the UK it is one of the rarest ant species and is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
A once-common bumble bee named for the rust-colored patch on the second abdominal segment of workers. It was the first bumble bee in the continental United States listed as endangered.
Did You Know?
Its range has shrunk by nearly 87 percent since the 1990s, making it one of the rarest bees in North America.