Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp vs Large Oak Cynipid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp | Large Oak Cynipid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Conura acuta | Cynips quercusfolii |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chalcididae | Cynipidae |
| Size | 5-10 mm | 2.5–4 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Herbivores |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela) | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp
A metallic-colored parasitoid wasp that attacks the pupae of various Lepidoptera, including Morpho butterflies. The female inserts her ovipositor through the pupal shell to lay eggs inside the developing butterfly. Larvae consume the pupa from within before emerging as adult wasps.
Did You Know?
A single parasitized Morpho pupa can produce dozens of tiny wasps instead of one large butterfly.
Large Oak Cynipid
A gall wasp that induces cherry-sized galls on the undersides of oak leaves. The galls turn from green to red as they mature in autumn.
Did You Know?
The colorful galls were historically known as 'oak cherries' and were sometimes mistaken for real fruit by children.