Cuckoo Bumblebee vs German Scorpionfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuckoo Bumblebee German Scorpionfly
Scientific Name Bombus vestalis Panorpa germanica
Order Hymenoptera Mecoptera
Family Apidae Panorpidae
Size 15-22mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cuckoo Bumblebee

A social parasite that invades buff-tailed bumblebee nests, kills the queen and enslaves the workers.

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Did You Know?

Enters the nest of its host species, fights and kills the queen, then forces the workers to raise her own offspring.

German Scorpionfly

A scorpionfly with bold wing markings found in shaded woodland habitats across central Europe. Like other Panorpa species, it has a distinctive elongated face.

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Did You Know?

German scorpionflies frequently steal prey from spider webs, delicately plucking trapped insects without becoming ensnared themselves.