Bean Weevil vs Japanese Paper Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bean Weevil | Japanese Paper Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acanthoscelides obtectus | Polistes japonicus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 11-15 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Gardens |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Central America (native), cosmopolitan | Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bean Weevil
A small, mottled grayish-brown beetle with a compact, somewhat wedge-shaped body. It is a major stored-product pest that develops inside dried beans and other legume seeds.
Did You Know?
Multiple larvae can develop inside a single bean, and adults can fly directly to bean fields to infest crops before harvest.
Japanese Paper Wasp
A small dark paper wasp endemic to Japan that builds delicate open-comb nests under eaves and tree branches. It is one of the most common social wasps in Japanese gardens.
Did You Know?
Japanese beekeepers sometimes tolerate these wasps near apiaries because they prey on pest insects rather than honeybees.