Cobalt Milkweed Beetle vs Black Headed Birch Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cobalt Milkweed Beetle Black Headed Birch Sawfly
Scientific Name Chrysochus cobaltinus auratus Craesus alniastri
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Tenthredinidae
Size 8-11mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Meadows Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cobalt Milkweed Beetle

A subspecies of the cobalt blue milkweed beetle with slightly more golden-green coloring.

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Did You Know?

The metallic blue and green coloring warns predators that it has sequestered toxic compounds from milkweed.

Black Headed Birch Sawfly

A medium-sized sawfly with a dark head and orange body. Larvae are greenish-blue with black heads and feed communally on birch and alder leaves.

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Did You Know?

When a predator approaches, the entire colony of larvae simultaneously rears up and thrashes, making the group appear larger and more threatening.