South American Giant Hornet vs Cotesia Congregata

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Giant Hornet Cotesia Congregata
Scientific Name Apoica pallens Cotesia congregata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Braconidae
Size 20-30 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Grasslands Farmland
Diet Fruit Feeders Parasitoids
Regions South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia) North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

South American Giant Hornet

A large nocturnal social wasp that builds exposed paper nests under tree branches. Unlike most wasps, it is primarily active at night, using its large compound eyes for navigation. Colonies can contain thousands of workers that become highly agitated if disturbed.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few truly nocturnal social wasps in the world, hunting and foraging under starlight and moonlight.

Cotesia Congregata

A gregarious endoparasitoid whose larvae emerge en masse from hornworm caterpillars to spin white cocoons on the host's skin. It is a well-known natural enemy of tobacco and tomato hornworms.

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Did You Know?

Up to 300 larvae can emerge from a single hornworm caterpillar, covering it in tiny white silk cocoons.