Sirex Woodwasp vs Sonorensis Biting Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sirex Woodwasp | Sonorensis Biting Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sirex noctilio | Culicoides sonorensis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Siricidae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 15-36 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Africa, Australasia, South America | North America, especially southwestern United States |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Females carry a special fungus in abdominal glands and inoculate trees during egg-laying.
Sonorensis Biting Midge
A small biting midge that is the primary vector of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in North America. It breeds in muddy margins of dairy wastewater ponds and is most abundant in the southwestern United States. It is responsible for severe livestock disease outbreaks.
Did You Know?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease transmitted by this midge kills thousands of white-tailed deer across North America annually.