Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp vs Spicebush Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp | Spicebush Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Conura acuta | Papilio troilus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Chalcididae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 5-10 mm | Wingspan 90-130mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Herbivores |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela) | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Spicebush Swallowtail
A dark swallowtail butterfly with blue-green hindwing scaling and orange spots. Its caterpillar has large false eyespots making it resemble a small snake.
Did You Know?
The young caterpillar mimics a bird dropping while the older caterpillar switches to mimicking a green tree snake.