Black Headed Birch Sawfly vs Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Headed Birch Sawfly | Ant-Nest Hister Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Craesus alniastri | Hetaerius ferrugineus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Histeridae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Headed Birch Sawfly
A medium-sized sawfly with a dark head and orange body. Larvae are greenish-blue with black heads and feed communally on birch and alder leaves.
Did You Know?
When a predator approaches, the entire colony of larvae simultaneously rears up and thrashes, making the group appear larger and more threatening.
Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.
Did You Know?
It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.