Black Headed Birch Sawfly vs Citrus Whitefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Headed Birch Sawfly | Citrus Whitefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Craesus alniastri | Dialeurodes citri |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Aleyrodidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Orchards |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Asia (native), North America, Europe, Africa (introduced) |
| 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.
Citrus Whitefly
A small white-winged whitefly that is a common pest of citrus trees. Adults gather on the undersides of leaves, and heavy infestations promote sooty mold growth from honeydew.
Did You Know?
It was one of the first insects to be successfully controlled by classical biological control, using the parasitoid wasp Encarsia lahorensis imported from Asia.