Australian Beefly Robber vs Parasitic Wood Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Beefly Robber Parasitic Wood Wasp
Scientific Name Blepharotes coriarius Orussus abietinus
Order Diptera Hymenoptera
Family Asilidae Orussidae
Size 25-35 mm 8-14 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Parasitoids
Regions Australia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Beefly Robber

Australia's largest robber fly, heavily built with a dense covering of dark hair. It is a powerful predator capable of taking large beetles.

💡

Did You Know?

It is so large and powerful that it has been observed catching and eating cicadas.

Parasitic Wood Wasp

A small, dark-bodied wasp-like insect with a flattened head and short antennae inserted below the eyes. It is among the most primitive parasitoid Hymenoptera.

💡

Did You Know?

Orussidae are considered the evolutionary link between sawflies and parasitoid wasps, making them key to understanding Hymenoptera evolution.