Steelblue Ichneumon vs Cotton Aphid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Steelblue Ichneumon Cotton Aphid
Scientific Name Lissopimpla excelsa Aphis gossypii
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Ichneumonidae Aphididae
Size 12-18 mm 1-1.8 mm
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Parasitoids Sap Feeders
Regions Australia, New Zealand Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Steelblue Ichneumon

A metallic blue-black ichneumon wasp native to Australia. It is an important parasitoid of pest caterpillars including the introduced cabbage moth.

💡

Did You Know?

It was deliberately introduced to New Zealand to help control pest moth populations in agriculture.

Cotton Aphid

A small yellowish-green to dark green aphid that attacks cotton, cucurbits, and citrus worldwide. It transmits numerous plant viruses and produces copious honeydew.

💡

Did You Know?

Its body color varies from yellow to nearly black depending on temperature, crowding, and host plant quality.