Wood-carving Leafcutter Bee vs Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wood-carving Leafcutter Bee | Rusty Patched Bumble Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megachile ligniseca | Bombus affinis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Apidae |
| Size | 13-16 mm | 13-20 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Upper Midwest and northeastern United States, now extremely restricted |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Critically Endangered |
Wood-carving Leafcutter Bee
A large, dark leafcutter bee that nests in rotten wood and dead tree stumps across Europe. Females cut large leaf pieces from roses, birch, and willows.
Did You Know?
Unlike most leafcutter bees that use pre-existing holes, it chews its own nest cavities directly into soft rotten wood.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
A once-common bumble bee named for the rust-colored patch on the second abdominal segment of workers. It was the first bumble bee in the continental United States listed as endangered.
Did You Know?
Its range has shrunk by nearly 87 percent since the 1990s, making it one of the rarest bees in North America.