Fairyfly Wasp vs Spring Pygmy Firefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fairyfly Wasp | Spring Pygmy Firefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dicopomorpha echmepterygis | Pleotomus pallens |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Mymaridae | Lampyridae |
| Size | 0.139-0.240 mm | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Fairyfly Wasp
The smallest known insect in the world at just 0.139 mm in length. Males are blind, wingless, and smaller than some single-celled organisms.
Did You Know?
Males of this species are smaller than a paramecium — they are blind and wingless, existing solely to mate with sisters before they even leave the host egg.
Spring Pygmy Firefly
A tiny, rarely seen firefly of the eastern United States with a very short adult life span. Males produce faint, sporadic greenish flashes close to the ground.
Did You Know?
Females are wingless and larviform, and were once classified as a completely separate species from the males.