Northern Bumblebee vs Lapland Bumblebee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern Bumblebee | Lapland Bumblebee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus hyperboreus | Bombus lapponicus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Size | 18-24 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Parasites | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Arctic Russia | Scandinavia, Scotland, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia |
| 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.
Lapland Bumblebee
A medium-sized bumblebee with a distinctive orange tail and yellow collar band. It is well adapted to cold, windy conditions of mountain and tundra habitats. Workers forage efficiently even in poor weather.
Did You Know?
Queens can emerge from hibernation and begin nest-building when snow still covers much of the ground.