House Fly Pupal Parasitoid vs Banded Ichneumon

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute House Fly Pupal Parasitoid Banded Ichneumon
Scientific Name Muscidifurax raptor Ichneumon xanthorius
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Pteromalidae Ichneumonidae
Size 1-2 mm 14-18 mm
Habitat Farmland Gardens
Diet Parasitoids Parasitoids
Regions North America, Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

House Fly Pupal Parasitoid

A minute parasitoid wasp that develops inside house fly and stable fly pupae. It is sold commercially for biological fly management.

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Did You Know?

Each female destroys about 50 fly pupae in her lifetime through a combination of parasitism and host-feeding.

Banded Ichneumon

A boldly patterned black-and-yellow parasitoid wasp commonly found in European gardens. It parasitizes large moth caterpillars that pupate in soil.

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Did You Know?

Despite its wasp-like warning colors, it rarely stings and is harmless to humans.