Paper Wasp vs Long-tailed Giant Ichneumon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Paper Wasp | Long-tailed Giant Ichneumon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polistes dominula | Megarhyssa atrata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 30-50 mm body, ovipositor up to 130 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, worldwide (introduced) | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Paper Wasp
Builds open-comb nests from chewed wood fiber mixed with saliva, creating paper-like material. Has a complex social hierarchy with facial pattern recognition between individuals.
Did You Know?
Paper wasps can recognize individual faces — they use facial patterns to identify nestmates and establish dominance hierarchies, one of the few insects known to have face recognition.
Long-tailed Giant Ichneumon
A large dark-bodied ichneumonid wasp found in eastern North America. Females bore through bark to parasitize pigeon tremex horntail larvae.
Did You Know?
Multiple females often congregate on the same dead tree, drilling simultaneously for hosts.