Confusing Bumble Bee vs small tortoiseshell

Bombus perplexus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Confusing Bumble Bee is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Confusing Bumble Bee	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Apidae (Bees)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Bombus	Aglais
Species	Bombus perplexus	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Confusing Bumble Bee and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Confusing Bumble Bee

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Confusing Bumble Bee	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Confusing Bumble Bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.