Redheaded Pine Sawfly vs Golden Paper Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Redheaded Pine Sawfly Golden Paper Wasp
Scientific Name Neodiprion lecontei Polistes fuscatus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Diprionidae Vespidae
Size 6-8 mm (adult) 15-21 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Fruit Feeders
Regions North America Eastern North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Redheaded Pine Sawfly

The most widely distributed pine sawfly in eastern North America. Larvae can completely defoliate young pines, sometimes killing them.

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Did You Know?

Larvae rear up in unison and regurgitate resinous fluid when disturbed as a group defense.

Golden Paper Wasp

A social wasp with highly variable facial markings used for individual recognition. It builds open paper nests under eaves and in sheltered spots.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few invertebrates scientifically proven to recognize individual faces.