Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid vs Dogwood Borer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid | Dogwood Borer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metaphycus helvolus | Synanthedon scitula |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Encyrtidae | Sesiidae |
| Size | 1-1.5 mm | 18–23 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Orchards |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide (introduced for biocontrol) | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
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.
Dogwood Borer
A clearwing moth whose larvae bore beneath the bark of dogwood, apple, and other trees. It is a significant pest of apple orchards on dwarfing rootstocks.
Did You Know?
It preferentially attacks the swollen graft unions on dwarf apple trees, which can kill productive orchard trees.