Skipper Butterfly vs Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Skipper Butterfly | Rusty Patched Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epargyreus clarus | Bombus affinis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Apidae |
| Size | 44-67 mm wingspan | 13-20 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Upper Midwest and northeastern United States, now extremely restricted |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Skipper Butterfly
A stout-bodied butterfly with hooked antennae, brown wings with golden spots on the forewing, and a distinctive silver patch on the hindwing underside. It has a rapid, darting flight.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar builds a silk-lined leaf shelter and can eject its droppings up to 150 centimeters away to avoid attracting parasitic wasps.
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.