Thread-waisted Wasp vs Emerald Ash Borer Parasite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thread-waisted Wasp | Emerald Ash Borer Parasite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammophila sabulosa | Spathius agrili |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Braconidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | East Asia, Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Thread-waisted Wasp
An elegant wasp with an extremely narrow petiole and red-banded abdomen. It hunts caterpillars and carries them clasped beneath its body to sandy burrows.
Did You Know?
It uses a small pebble as a tool to tamp down the sand plug sealing its burrow, one of the earliest documented cases of tool use in insects.
Emerald Ash Borer Parasite
A parasitoid wasp from China released in North America to combat the devastating emerald ash borer beetle. Females drill through bark to reach host larvae.
Did You Know?
It was approved for release in the US in 2007 as part of an emergency effort to save North American ash trees.