South American Cuckoo Bee vs Golden Pergid Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Cuckoo Bee Golden Pergid Sawfly
Scientific Name Exaerete frontalis Perga gravenhorstii
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Pergidae
Size 22-28 mm 14-22 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Herbivores
Regions Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

South American Cuckoo Bee

A large metallic blue-green cleptoparasitic orchid bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other orchid bees. Its mandibles are strong enough to break into sealed brood cells.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae first consume the host's food stores, then devour the host bee larva itself before pupating in the stolen nest cell.

Golden Pergid Sawfly

A large Australian sawfly with distinctive golden-orange coloring and dark wing venation. Larvae are gregarious spitfires on eucalyptus.

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Did You Know?

Female Perga sawflies show an unusual degree of parental care, standing guard over their egg masses for days to protect them from parasitoids.