Pharaoh Ant vs Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pharaoh Ant Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Scientific Name Monomorium pharaonis Bombus impatiens
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 8-23 mm
Habitat Indoors Underground
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Worldwide (indoors) Eastern North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Pharaoh Ant

A tiny tropical ant that has become a major indoor pest in heated buildings worldwide. Colonies reproduce by budding, making them extremely difficult to eradicate.

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Did You Know?

They are a serious pest in hospitals because they can transmit pathogens by entering IV lines, wounds, and sterile packaging.

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

A robust fuzzy bumble bee with a black body and yellow thoracic band that is widely used as a commercial greenhouse pollinator. It is the most abundant bumble bee in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

It can perform buzz pollination by vibrating its flight muscles at a specific frequency to shake pollen from flowers like tomatoes.