Cuckoo Bumblebee vs South American Wattle Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuckoo Bumblebee South American Wattle Sawfly
Scientific Name Bombus vestalis Arge pullata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Argidae
Size 15-22mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Parasites Herbivores
Regions Europe Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cuckoo Bumblebee

A social parasite that invades buff-tailed bumblebee nests, kills the queen and enslaves the workers.

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Did You Know?

Enters the nest of its host species, fights and kills the queen, then forces the workers to raise her own offspring.

South American Wattle Sawfly

A shiny black argid sawfly that feeds on wattle (Acacia) trees. Larvae are green with dark dorsal markings and can cause significant defoliation.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the relatively few argid sawflies found in Africa, where the family is less diverse than in other continents.