Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid vs Jet Black Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid Jet Black Ant
Scientific Name Encarsia formosa Lasius fuliginosus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Eulophidae Formicidae
Size 0.5-0.8 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Parasitoids Fungus Feeders
Regions Worldwide Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid

The most widely used parasitoid wasp in greenhouse biological control worldwide. Parasitized whitefly nymphs turn black, making monitoring easy.

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Did You Know?

It reproduces entirely by parthenogenesis since males are extremely rare in commercial populations.

Jet Black Ant

A shiny jet-black ant that builds carton nests inside hollow trees using chewed wood mixed with honeydew. It cultivates a specific fungus that strengthens the nest walls.

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Did You Know?

The fungus Cladosporium myrmecophilum grows exclusively in the carton nests of this ant species.