Tanbark Borer vs Sabre Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tanbark Borer | Sabre Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phymatodes testaceus | Rhyssa persuasoria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 8-17 mm | 25-40 mm body length |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, introduced to North America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tanbark Borer
A small, highly variable cerambycid ranging from pale yellow to dark brown or violet. It breeds under the bark of recently dead oaks across Europe and North America. Adults are nocturnal and come freely to lights.
Did You Know?
Color variation in this species is so extreme that over a dozen color forms have been named, all belonging to one species.
Sabre Wasp
The largest European ichneumon wasp, recognized by its black-and-white banded body. It parasitizes the larvae of wood wasps within conifer trunks.
Did You Know?
She can detect a wood wasp larva through several centimeters of solid timber using her antennae.