Australian Paper Wasp vs Aphidius Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Paper Wasp Aphidius Wasp
Scientific Name Polistes humilis Aphidius colemani
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Braconidae
Size 15-20 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Gardens Underground
Diet Predators Parasitoids
Regions Australia, Oceania Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Paper Wasp

A common Australian paper wasp that builds small, open-celled papery nests under eaves, in shrubs, and other sheltered locations. It is a beneficial predator of caterpillars and other garden pests.

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Did You Know?

Paper wasps chew wood fibres mixed with saliva to create their distinctive papery nests, a form of natural paper-making.

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.