Aphidius Wasp vs Blood Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Aphidius Wasp Blood Bee
Scientific Name Aphidius colemani Sphecodes monilicornis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Braconidae Halictidae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Underground Heathland
Diet Parasitoids Parasites
Regions Worldwide Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Aphidius Wasp

A minute parasitoid wasp widely used in greenhouses to control aphid pests. A single female can parasitize over 300 aphids in her lifetime.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized aphids turn into hardened golden-brown shells called 'mummies' from which new wasps emerge.

Blood Bee

A cleptoparasitic bee with a bright red abdomen and black head that attacks the nests of furrow bees. Females enter host nests to lay eggs that hatch and consume the host provisions.

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Did You Know?

Its blood-red abdomen is the source of its common name and makes it look more like a ruby-colored ant than a bee.