House Fly Pupal Parasitoid vs Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute House Fly Pupal Parasitoid Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
Scientific Name Muscidifurax raptor Profenusa thomsoni
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Pteromalidae Tenthredinidae
Size 1-2 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Parasitoids Herbivores
Regions North America, Europe Europe, introduced to North America
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.

Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly

A tiny black sawfly whose larvae create distinctive blotch mines within birch leaves. Mined leaves develop brown, papery patches.

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Did You Know?

Heavy infestations can cause over 80 percent of birch leaves to become mined, giving trees a scorched appearance by late summer.