North American Horntail vs Hedgehog Flea

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute North American Horntail Hedgehog Flea
Scientific Name Tremex columba Archaeopsylla erinacei
Order Hymenoptera Siphonaptera
Family Siricidae Pulicidae
Size 25–50 mm 2-3.5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Europe, North Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

North American Horntail

A large horntail wasp found across eastern North America. It attacks dead and dying hardwood trees such as beech, maple, and elm.

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Did You Know?

The parasitoid wasp Megarhyssa macrurus uses its extremely long ovipositor to reach horntail larvae deep inside wood.

Hedgehog Flea

A large flea specific to European hedgehogs and one of the most abundant fleas in Western Europe. A single hedgehog can harbor hundreds.

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Did You Know?

Hedgehogs are so commonly infested that an average individual carries about 100 of these fleas.