Australian Flower Wasp vs Xanthostigma Snakefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Flower Wasp Xanthostigma Snakefly
Scientific Name Campsomeris tasmaniensis Xanthostigma xanthostigma
Order Hymenoptera Raphidioptera
Family Scoliidae Raphidiidae
Size 15-25 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Predators
Regions Australia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Flower Wasp

A hairy black and orange scoliid wasp endemic to Australia. Males patrol flowers while females dig into soil to parasitize curl grub beetle larvae.

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Did You Know?

Males are commonly seen hovering over lawns in large numbers, searching for females emerging from underground.

Xanthostigma Snakefly

A snakefly with a distinctive yellow wing stigma from which it derives its name. It is found in European woodlands where it hunts small insects on tree trunks.

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Did You Know?

Snakefly larvae develop under bark where they are voracious predators of bark beetle larvae and other wood-boring insects.