Western Bumble Bee vs Tinkerbell Fairyfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Bumble Bee | Tinkerbell Fairyfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus occidentalis | Tinkerbella nana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Mymaridae |
| Size | 10-22 mm | 0.25 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Western North America | Central America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Data Deficient |
Western Bumble Bee
A once-common bumble bee of western North America that has experienced dramatic population declines since the late 1990s. They nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows.
Did You Know?
Their catastrophic decline is linked to a pathogen accidentally spread through commercial bumble bee rearing facilities.
Tinkerbell Fairyfly
One of the smallest insects ever described, named after Peter Pans Tinker Bell. Discovered in Costa Rica in 2013. Measures only 0.25 mm in length.
Did You Know?
Named after the fairy Tinkerbell, this wasp is so tiny it can stand on the tip of a human hair — it was described in 2013 from specimens collected using specialized micro-traps.