Dock Sawfly vs Malagasy Mud Dauber Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dock Sawfly Malagasy Mud Dauber Wasp
Scientific Name Ametastegia glabrata Sceliphron madecassum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Sphecidae
Size 5-7 mm 20-28 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, introduced to North America Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dock Sawfly

A small, shiny dark green to black sawfly with pale legs. Larvae are pale green caterpillar-like grubs that feed on dock and sorrel leaves.

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Did You Know?

In North America, dock sawfly larvae sometimes bore into apples to pupate, making them a nuisance pest in orchards despite not actually feeding on the fruit.

Malagasy Mud Dauber Wasp

A striking black and yellow wasp with a dramatically elongated, thread-like petiole connecting the thorax to the abdomen. It constructs tubular mud nests on walls and rock overhangs.

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Did You Know?

Each mud cell is stocked with several paralyzed spiders that remain alive as fresh food for the developing wasp larva.