Rusty Patched Bumble Bee vs Large Oak Cynipid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rusty Patched Bumble Bee | Large Oak Cynipid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus affinis | Cynips quercusfolii |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Cynipidae |
| Size | 13-20 mm | 2.5–4 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Upper Midwest and northeastern United States, now extremely restricted | Europe |
| Conservation | Critically Endangered | Not Evaluated |
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.
Large Oak Cynipid
A gall wasp that induces cherry-sized galls on the undersides of oak leaves. The galls turn from green to red as they mature in autumn.
Did You Know?
The colorful galls were historically known as 'oak cherries' and were sometimes mistaken for real fruit by children.