European Wheat Stem Sawfly vs Japanese Paper Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute European Wheat Stem Sawfly Japanese Paper Wasp
Scientific Name Cephus pygmeus Polistes japonicus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Cephidae Vespidae
Size 8-10 mm (adult) 11-15 mm
Habitat Farmland Gardens
Diet Omnivores Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Japan
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

European Wheat Stem Sawfly

A stem-boring sawfly pest of wheat and other cereals throughout Europe and western Asia. It has also established in parts of North America.

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Did You Know?

Solid-stemmed wheat varieties were bred specifically to resist stem sawfly larval boring.

Japanese Paper Wasp

A small dark paper wasp endemic to Japan that builds delicate open-comb nests under eaves and tree branches. It is one of the most common social wasps in Japanese gardens.

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Did You Know?

Japanese beekeepers sometimes tolerate these wasps near apiaries because they prey on pest insects rather than honeybees.