Tiger Hoverfly vs Hunt's Bumble Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tiger Hoverfly Hunt's Bumble Bee
Scientific Name Helophilus pendulus Bombus huntii
Order Diptera Hymenoptera
Family Syrphidae Apidae
Size 10-14 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Meadows
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Western North America from British Columbia to Mexico
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tiger Hoverfly

A distinctive hoverfly with bold yellow and black stripes on the thorax. It breeds in muddy, organically enriched water.

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Did You Know?

Its longitudinal thorax stripes are unique among common hoverflies, making it easy to identify.

Hunt's Bumble Bee

A medium-sized bumble bee with orange, black, and yellow banding commonly found in the western United States. It is an important pollinator of both wildflowers and crops.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few bumble bee species that has maintained stable populations while many others have declined.