Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee vs Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee | Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psithyrus vestalis | Perga kirbyi |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Pergidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 16-24 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee
A brood parasitic bumblebee that takes over colonies of the Buff-tailed Bumblebee. The female kills or subdues the host queen and uses the workers to raise her own offspring.
Did You Know?
Females infiltrate host bumblebee nests and take them over by force, enslaving the workers to raise cuckoo brood.
Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly
A large, robustly built Australian sawfly with a bright scarlet to red-orange abdomen and dark head and thorax. Its spitfire larvae feed on eucalyptus in tight clusters.
Did You Know?
Adult females demonstrate rare parental care for an insect by guarding their egg batch and early-instar larvae on the eucalyptus leaf.