European Hornet vs African Citrus Psyllid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute European Hornet African Citrus Psyllid
Scientific Name Vespa crabro Trioza erytreae
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Vespidae Triozidae
Size 25-35 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Sub-Saharan Africa, Madeira, Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula (invasive)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

European Hornet

The largest European wasp, with a brown and yellow striped body and reddish-brown head and thorax. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is relatively docile for a social wasp.

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Did You Know?

European hornets are one of the few wasp species that actively hunt at night, attracted to lights where they capture other insects.

African Citrus Psyllid

A small brownish psyllid that causes distinctive pit galls on citrus leaves. It vectors the African form of citrus greening disease and is expanding its range into Europe.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the Asian citrus psyllid, this species prefers cooler climates and has been detected in Portugal and Spain, threatening Mediterranean citrus production.