Larch Sawfly vs Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Larch Sawfly | Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pristiphora erichsonii | Metaphycus helvolus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Encyrtidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm (adult) | 1-1.5 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Parasitoids |
| Regions | North America, Europe | Worldwide (introduced for biocontrol) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Larch Sawfly
The most important defoliator of larch in North America. Periodic outbreaks can last for years and cause significant growth reduction.
Did You Know?
Indigenous peoples used outbreaks as a calendar marker, as they occurred with notable regularity.
Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid
A golden-yellow parasitoid wasp that attacks black scale and other soft scale insects on citrus and olive trees. It is one of the most widely used encyrtids in commercial biological control.
Did You Know?
Adults also feed directly on young scale insects by piercing them with their ovipositor, killing hosts through both parasitism and host-feeding.