Rice Stem Borer Egg Parasitoid vs Thistledown Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rice Stem Borer Egg Parasitoid | Thistledown Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Trichogramma japonicum | Dasymutilla gloriosa |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Trichogrammatidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 0.3-0.5 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Southwestern United States from California to Texas |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Rice Stem Borer Egg Parasitoid
A minute parasitoid wasp widely used in Asian rice paddies to control stem borer moths. It is mass-reared on factitious host eggs.
Did You Know?
China alone produces trillions of these wasps each year for rice pest management.
Thistledown Velvet Ant
A strikingly beautiful velvet ant covered in long white hair that resembles a piece of thistledown blowing across desert sand. The wingless females are a remarkable mimic of windblown plant material.
Did You Know?
Its white fluffy appearance camouflages it among the creosote seed pods and dried plant debris of its desert habitat.