Crotch's Bumblebee vs Pale Grass Blue

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Crotch's Bumblebee	Pale Grass Blue
Scientific Name	Bombus crotchii	Zizeeria maha
Order	Hymenoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Apidae	Lycaenidae
Size	10-16 mm	15-25 mm wingspan
Habitat	Heathland	Meadows
Diet	Nectar Feeders	Nectar Feeders
Regions	California, western USA	East Asia, Japan/Korea
Conservation	Endangered	Least Concern

Crotch's Bumblebee

A western North American bumblebee that has declined by over 90% from its historical range. Once common in California's Central Valley. Threatened by pesticides and habitat loss.

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Did You Know?

Has vanished from most of California's agricultural Central Valley where it was once the dominant bumblebee.

Pale Grass Blue

One of the smallest and most common butterflies in Japan, known as 'yamato-shijimi.' Found everywhere from city sidewalks to mountain meadows. Pale blue upperwings with spotted undersides.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly became an unlikely research subject after Fukushima, as scientists documented radiation-induced mutations in populations near the disaster site.