Small Carpenter Bee vs Black Slip Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Carpenter Bee Black Slip Wasp
Scientific Name Ceratina calcarata Pimpla instigator
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Ichneumonidae
Size 5–8 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Eastern North America Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Small Carpenter Bee

A tiny metallic blue-green bee that nests in the pithy stems of broken twigs. It is one of the few bee species showing rudimentary social behavior.

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Did You Know?

Mothers guard their nests and feed their developing larvae with pollen, a behavior rare among solitary bees.

Black Slip Wasp

A medium-sized black ichneumon wasp that parasitizes butterfly and moth pupae. Uses its ovipositor to penetrate through cocoons. A common and widespread species.

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Did You Know?

Can drill its ovipositor through tough pupal cases and silk cocoons to reach the developing insect inside.