Waved Sphinx Moth vs Arctic Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Waved Sphinx Moth Arctic Bumblebee
Scientific Name Ceratomia undulosa Bombus polaris
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Sphingidae Apidae
Size 75-100 mm 15-22 mm
Habitat Woodlands Beaches & Coastal
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Canadian Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, Siberia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Waved Sphinx Moth

A large gray hawk moth with wavy dark lines across the forewings, providing superb bark camouflage. It is one of the most commonly encountered sphingids at lights in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

The waved sphinx is so common at porch lights in the eastern US that it is often the first sphinx moth most people encounter.

Arctic Bumblebee

A large, densely furred bumblebee with yellow and black banding adapted to extreme cold. Its thick pile of hair provides superior insulation. Queens emerge from hibernation as soon as snow melts.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can maintain its flight muscle temperature at 30 degrees Celsius even when the air temperature is near freezing, thanks to its exceptional insulation.