South American Wattle Sawfly vs Parasitic Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Wattle Sawfly Parasitic Bee Fly
Scientific Name Arge pullata Winthemia rufopicta
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Argidae Tachinidae
Size 7-10 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Africa North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

South American Wattle Sawfly

A shiny black argid sawfly that feeds on wattle (Acacia) trees. Larvae are green with dark dorsal markings and can cause significant defoliation.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the relatively few argid sawflies found in Africa, where the family is less diverse than in other continents.

Parasitic Bee Fly

A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is found across multiple continents.

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Did You Know?

Females deposit multiple larvae on a single caterpillar but only one typically survives to maturity.