Copidosoma Polyembryonic Wasp vs Sheep Nose Bot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Copidosoma Polyembryonic Wasp Sheep Nose Bot Fly
Scientific Name Copidosoma floridanum Oestrus ovis
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Encyrtidae Oestridae
Size 1-1.5 mm 10-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Parasitoids Parasites
Regions North America, Europe Worldwide
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Copidosoma Polyembryonic Wasp

A remarkable parasitoid in which a single egg divides into thousands of genetically identical embryos inside a moth caterpillar. The host continues feeding and growing while filled with developing wasp larvae.

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Did You Know?

A single fertilized egg can clone itself into over 3,000 genetically identical wasp larvae inside one caterpillar.

Sheep Nose Bot Fly

A parasitic fly that shoots live larvae into the nostrils of sheep and goats while in flight. Larvae develop inside the nasal sinuses, causing distress to livestock.

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Did You Know?

This fly does not lay eggs — it shoots live first-instar larvae directly into the nostrils of sheep while flying past at speed, a method called larviposition.