Sirex Woodwasp vs African Scoliid Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sirex Woodwasp African Scoliid Wasp
Scientific Name Sirex noctilio Megascolia vittata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Siricidae Scoliidae
Size 15-36 mm 30-45 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Africa, Australasia, South America Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sirex Woodwasp

A large blue-black woodwasp that bores into pine trees to lay eggs. It injects a symbiotic fungus into the wood that feeds its developing larvae.

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Did You Know?

Females carry a special fungus in abdominal glands and inoculate trees during egg-laying.

African Scoliid Wasp

A very large black and yellow-banded scoliid wasp from sub-Saharan Africa. It parasitizes goliath beetle and other large scarab beetle larvae in forest soils.

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Did You Know?

It targets some of the largest beetle grubs on Earth, including those of goliath beetles weighing over 100 grams.