Northern Bumblebee vs Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern Bumblebee | Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus hyperboreus | Chrysis fulgida |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Chrysididae |
| Size | 18-24 mm | 7-12 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Arctic Russia | Central Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Northern Bumblebee
A very large, heavily furred bumblebee with orange and black coloring. It is a social parasite that takes over colonies of Bombus polaris. Queens are notably larger than their host species.
Did You Know?
This is the most northerly bumblebee in the world and is a cuckoo bee that kills or subjugates Bombus polaris queens to take over their nests.
Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp
A dazzling metallic wasp with a bright green head and thorax and a golden-red abdomen. It is a brood parasite of potter wasps and mason wasps.
Did You Know?
Its armoured exoskeleton is so tough that host wasps cannot sting through it.