Arctic Parasitic Wasp vs Honeysuckle Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Parasitic Wasp Honeysuckle Sawfly
Scientific Name Hyposoter horticola Zaraea fasciata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Ichneumonidae Cimbicidae
Size 6-10 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic regions of Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Parasitic Wasp

A slender parasitic wasp with a black body, orange legs, and long antennae. Females search for caterpillar hosts on tundra vegetation. The larva develops inside the host caterpillar, eventually killing it.

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Did You Know?

This wasp has been extensively studied as a model for understanding host-parasitoid population dynamics in changing Arctic ecosystems.

Honeysuckle Sawfly

A moderately large sawfly with clubbed antennae and a dark body with pale markings. It is closely associated with honeysuckle plants.

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Did You Know?

This is one of the smaller members of the Cimbicidae, a family mostly known for its large, robust species.