African Bat Bug vs Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Bat Bug Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp
Scientific Name Afrocimex constrictus Chrysis fulgida
Order Hemiptera Hymenoptera
Family Cimicidae Chrysididae
Size 3-5 mm 7-12 mm
Habitat Caves Underground
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions East Africa Central Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Bat Bug

A cimicid ectoparasite found on bats in East African caves. It is notable for its unusual mating system involving traumatic insemination.

💡

Did You Know?

Both males and females possess a defensive organ to mitigate injury from traumatic insemination.

Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp

A dazzling metallic wasp with a bright green head and thorax and a golden-red abdomen. It is a brood parasite of potter wasps and mason wasps.

💡

Did You Know?

Its armoured exoskeleton is so tough that host wasps cannot sting through it.