Fire-tailed Cuckoo Wasp vs Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fire-tailed Cuckoo Wasp | Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysis viridula | Megachile mendica |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysididae | Megachilidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Fire-tailed Cuckoo Wasp
A metallic green cuckoo wasp with a distinctive red-gold abdomen tipped with four small teeth. It parasitizes the nests of cavity-nesting solitary wasps.
Did You Know?
The number of teeth on the tip of the abdomen is a key feature used to identify different cuckoo wasp species.
Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee
A medium-sized leaf-cutter bee with pale abdominal hair bands. It provisions its nest cells with carefully cut pieces of rose and birch leaves.
Did You Know?
It can cut a perfect leaf disc in under 10 seconds using its sharp mandibles.