Corn Earworm vs Swarm-Founding Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Corn Earworm | Swarm-Founding Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helicoverpa zea | Polybia paulista |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Noctuidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 35-40 mm wingspan | 10-15 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Americas | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Corn Earworm
A highly polyphagous moth whose caterpillars feed inside corn ears, tomato fruits, and cotton bolls. It is one of the costliest crop pests in the Americas.
Did You Know?
Caterpillars are cannibalistic, so usually only one survives per corn ear.
Swarm-Founding Wasp
A small dark social wasp that builds enclosed paper nests containing thousands of individuals. It is known for its aggressive colony defense.
Did You Know?
Its venom contains a peptide called Polybia-MP1 that has shown the ability to selectively destroy cancer cells in laboratory studies.