Pacific Cuckoo Wasp vs Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pacific Cuckoo Wasp | Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysis pellucidula | Encarsia formosa |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysididae | Eulophidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 0.5-0.8 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Western North America | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pacific Cuckoo Wasp
A brightly metallic cuckoo wasp with green-blue head and thorax and a coppery red abdomen. It parasitizes solitary mason bees and wasps in the western US.
Did You Know?
It times its nest infiltration perfectly, sneaking in while the host wasp is away collecting provisions.
Greenhouse Whitefly Parasitoid
The most widely used parasitoid wasp in greenhouse biological control worldwide. Parasitized whitefly nymphs turn black, making monitoring easy.
Did You Know?
It reproduces entirely by parthenogenesis since males are extremely rare in commercial populations.