Thistle Gall Wasp vs Common Carder Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thistle Gall Wasp | Common Carder Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Isocolus scabiosae | Bombus pascuorum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cynipidae | Apidae |
| Size | 1.5-2.5 mm | 9-18 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Underground |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Thistle Gall Wasp
A minute gall-inducing wasp that forms swellings on knapweed flower heads. It has been studied as a potential biocontrol agent for invasive knapweeds.
Did You Know?
A single flower head can contain dozens of tiny gall chambers, each housing one larva.
Common Carder Bee
A fluffy ginger-brown bumblebee that builds nests on the ground surface using moss and grass. It has one of the longest flight seasons of any European bumblebee.
Did You Know?
Workers 'card' moss fibres over the nest like wool, which gives the species its common name.