Currant Stem Girdler vs Western Cicada Killer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Currant Stem Girdler | Western Cicada Killer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Janus integer | Sphecius grandis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cephidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 30-55 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Currant Stem Girdler
A slender black stem sawfly that attacks currant and gooseberry bushes. Females girdle the stem tips with their ovipositor, causing them to wilt.
Did You Know?
The female girdles the stem above the egg insertion point, causing the tip to wilt and die, which provides the larva with softened stem tissue to feed on.
Western Cicada Killer
A massive solitary wasp of the American West that hunts cicadas to provision its underground burrows. It is slightly larger and paler than its eastern relative.
Did You Know?
Despite its intimidating size, it is generally docile toward humans and males cannot sting at all.