Sonoran Blue vs Large Garden Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sonoran Blue | Large Garden Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Philotes sonorensis | Bombus ruderatus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Apidae |
| Size | 18-22 mm wingspan | 14-24 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Europe, New Zealand, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Sonoran Blue
Tiny blue butterfly with orange and black hindwing spots. One of the earliest-flying butterflies of the year in the American West.
Did You Know?
Adults fly as early as February, when few other butterflies are active in their range.
Large Garden Bumble Bee
A long-tongued bumble bee introduced to New Zealand in the early 1900s to pollinate red clover. They have one of the longest tongues of any bumble bee species.
Did You Know?
They were intentionally shipped from England to New Zealand because they were the only bees with tongues long enough to pollinate red clover.