Blue Orchard Bee vs Ichneumon Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Orchard Bee | Ichneumon Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Osmia lignaria | Megarhyssa macrurus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Megachilidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 25-50 mm body plus 100+ mm ovipositor |
| Habitat | Orchards | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Orchard Bee
A metallic dark blue solitary bee that nests in pre-existing holes in wood. It is an exceptionally efficient pollinator of fruit trees, significantly outperforming honey bees per individual.
Did You Know?
A single blue orchard bee can pollinate as effectively as 60 to 80 honey bees, making them increasingly important for commercial fruit production.
Ichneumon Wasp
A large parasitoid wasp with an extremely long, thread-like ovipositor that can exceed the length of its body. Females drill through solid wood to reach their host larvae deep inside.
Did You Know?
The female can somehow detect horntail larvae vibrations through several centimeters of solid wood and then drill her flexible ovipositor to reach them with remarkable accuracy.