White-tailed Bumblebee vs Nomada Cuckoo Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute White-tailed Bumblebee Nomada Cuckoo Bee
Scientific Name Bombus lucorum Nomada marshamella
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Apidae
Size 11-20mm 9-12mm
Habitat Farmland Deserts & Drylands
Diet Herbivores Parasitoids
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

White-tailed Bumblebee

A common bumblebee with two yellow bands and a white tail. Part of a complex of similar-looking species.

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Did You Know?

Actually comprises three nearly identical species only reliably separated by DNA analysis or chemical signatures.

Nomada Cuckoo Bee

A wasp-like cuckoo bee with red and black markings that sneaks into andrena bee nests to lay its eggs.

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Did You Know?

Mimics a wasp in appearance and behavior to avoid detection while sneaking into the nests of mining bees.