Although bumblebees and bees both belong to the order of hymenoptera and play similar ecological roles as pollinators, there are still some important differences between these two groups of insects.

Appearance

  • Bumblebees are generally larger and larger than bees. They have a hairier body and a remarkably fluffy appearance.
  • Bees usually have a slimmer body and less hair compared to bumblebees. They often have a striped pattern on their abdomen, although there are also bee species without these markings.

Image bumblebee of Josef Pichler via Pixabay

Lifecycle

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