Keyhole Wasp vs Black Headed Birch Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Keyhole Wasp | Black Headed Birch Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pachodynerus nasidens | Craesus alniastri |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 7-9 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Americas, introduced to Australia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Keyhole Wasp
A mud-nesting wasp notorious for building nests inside aircraft pitot tubes. It has caused aviation incidents by blocking airspeed sensors.
Did You Know?
Brisbane Airport installed covers on aircraft sensors specifically because of this species.
Black Headed Birch Sawfly
A medium-sized sawfly with a dark head and orange body. Larvae are greenish-blue with black heads and feed communally on birch and alder leaves.
Did You Know?
When a predator approaches, the entire colony of larvae simultaneously rears up and thrashes, making the group appear larger and more threatening.