European Corn Borer Parasite vs Dark-edged Bee-fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute European Corn Borer Parasite Dark-edged Bee-fly
Scientific Name Macrocentrus grandii Bombylius major discolor
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Braconidae Bombyliidae
Size 5-8 mm 8-12mm
Habitat Farmland Deserts & Drylands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, North America Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

European Corn Borer Parasite

A slender braconid wasp introduced to North America to control the European corn borer. It lays polyembryonic eggs that multiply inside the host caterpillar.

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Did You Know?

A single egg divides into up to 30 genetically identical larvae inside the host through polyembryony.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.