Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid vs Field Digger Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid | Field Digger Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metaphycus helvolus | Mellinus arvensis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Encyrtidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 1-1.5 mm | 10-14mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Predators |
| Regions | Worldwide (introduced for biocontrol) | Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
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.
Field Digger Wasp
A yellow and black wasp that nests in sandy soil and provisions each cell with paralyzed hoverflies.
Did You Know?
Digs a nest burrow in bare sandy soil and stocks each cell with 5-8 precisely paralyzed hoverflies.