Great Yellow Bumblebee vs Japanese Paper Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Yellow Bumblebee | Japanese Paper Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus distinguendus | Polistes japonicus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 15-22mm | 11-15 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Gardens |
| Diet | Herbivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Japan |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Great Yellow Bumblebee
A large strikingly yellow bumblebee with a band of darker hair. One of the rarest bumblebees in Britain.
Did You Know?
Now restricted to a few Scottish islands and the far north coast, having disappeared from 80 percent of its range.
Japanese Paper Wasp
A small dark paper wasp endemic to Japan that builds delicate open-comb nests under eaves and tree branches. It is one of the most common social wasps in Japanese gardens.
Did You Know?
Japanese beekeepers sometimes tolerate these wasps near apiaries because they prey on pest insects rather than honeybees.