Alfalfa Caterpillar Parasite vs Tiny Dark Sweat Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Alfalfa Caterpillar Parasite | Tiny Dark Sweat Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cotesia medicaginis | Lasioglossum villosulum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Braconidae | Halictidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 5-6 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Europe, Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Alfalfa Caterpillar Parasite
A small braconid wasp that parasitizes alfalfa butterfly caterpillars in agricultural fields. Larvae spin white cocoons after emerging from the host.
Did You Know?
It can reduce alfalfa caterpillar populations by over 50% in some fields without any pesticide use.
Tiny Dark Sweat Bee
A tiny, inconspicuous furrow bee widespread across the Palearctic region. Despite its small size, it is an important pollinator of crops including onion seed and carrots.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most important wild pollinators of commercial onion seed crops in Europe.