Banded Fruit Weevil vs Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Fruit Weevil | Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phlyctinus callosus | Microplitis demolitor |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Curculionidae | Braconidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | South Africa (Western Cape) | North America, South America, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Banded Fruit Weevil
A small greyish-brown weevil with pale transverse bands on the elytra. It is a significant pest of fruit crops and grapevines in the Cape.
Did You Know?
Adults are nocturnal feeders that hide in soil cracks during the day, making them difficult to control.
Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
A small endoparasitoid wasp that injects polydnavirus along with its eggs into caterpillar hosts. It is an important natural enemy of soybean looper and corn earworm.
Did You Know?
It injects a symbiotic virus along with its eggs that suppresses the caterpillar's immune system.