Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid vs Blue-Banded Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid | Blue-Banded Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microplitis demolitor | Amegilla cingulata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Braconidae | Apidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America, South America, Australia | Australia, Southeast Asia, India |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
A small endoparasitoid wasp that injects polydnavirus along with its eggs into caterpillar hosts. It is an important natural enemy of soybean looper and corn earworm.
Did You Know?
It injects a symbiotic virus along with its eggs that suppresses the caterpillar's immune system.
Blue-Banded Bee
A striking Australian native bee with iridescent turquoise bands on its abdomen. They are important buzz pollinators of tomatoes and other crops.
Did You Know?
They bang their heads against flowers at 350 times per second to vibrate pollen loose, a technique called buzz pollination.