African Spider Wasp vs Odorous House Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Spider Wasp | Odorous House Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemipepsis capensis | Tapinoma sessile |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 30-50 mm | 2.5-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Indoors |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Spider Wasp
A very large blue-black wasp with bright orange wings that hunts baboon spiders. It is one of Africa's largest solitary wasps.
Did You Know?
A single female can overpower and paralyze a baboon spider three times her own weight with a precisely placed sting.
Odorous House Ant
A small dark brown ant that emits a distinctive rotten coconut smell when crushed. It is one of the most common household pest ants in North America.
Did You Know?
The smell produced when crushed is caused by methyl ketones, the same compounds found in blue cheese.