African Carpenter Bee vs African Scoliid Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Carpenter Bee African Scoliid Wasp
Scientific Name Xylocopa caffra Megascolia vittata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Scoliidae
Size 20-28 mm 30-45 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Africa, East Africa Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Carpenter Bee

A large robust bee with a shiny black body and yellowish thoracic hair in males. It excavates nesting tunnels in dead wood and plant stems.

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Did You Know?

Despite their intimidating size and loud buzzing, males are completely harmless as they lack a stinger.

African Scoliid Wasp

A very large black and yellow-banded scoliid wasp from sub-Saharan Africa. It parasitizes goliath beetle and other large scarab beetle larvae in forest soils.

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Did You Know?

It targets some of the largest beetle grubs on Earth, including those of goliath beetles weighing over 100 grams.