Dock Sawfly vs Pacific Cuckoo Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dock Sawfly Pacific Cuckoo Wasp
Scientific Name Ametastegia glabrata Chrysis pellucidula
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Chrysididae
Size 5-7 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Farmland Heathland
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, introduced to North America Western North America
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.

Pacific Cuckoo Wasp

A brightly metallic cuckoo wasp with green-blue head and thorax and a coppery red abdomen. It parasitizes solitary mason bees and wasps in the western US.

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Did You Know?

It times its nest infiltration perfectly, sneaking in while the host wasp is away collecting provisions.