Spalangia Fly Parasite vs Pennsylvania Firefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spalangia Fly Parasite Pennsylvania Firefly
Scientific Name Spalangia cameroni Photuris pennsylvanica
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Pteromalidae Lampyridae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Scavengers Predators
Regions Worldwide Eastern North America from Canada to Georgia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Spalangia Fly Parasite

A small dark wasp that parasitizes fly pupae in manure and decaying organic matter. It is commercially reared for biological control of filth flies on livestock farms.

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Did You Know?

Millions are commercially released on cattle and poultry farms each year to suppress nuisance house flies and stable flies.

Pennsylvania Firefly

A common firefly of the eastern United States that produces a green-yellow bioluminescent flash. Adults are soft-bodied with a dark pronotum edged in pink.

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Did You Know?

Females mimic the flash patterns of other firefly species to lure males as prey, earning them the name femme fatale fireflies.