Australian Paper Wasp vs Xantholine Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Paper Wasp Xantholine Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Polistes humilis Xantholinus linearis
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Vespidae Staphylinidae
Size 15-20 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Gardens Woodlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Australia, Oceania Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Paper Wasp

A common Australian paper wasp that builds small, open-celled papery nests under eaves, in shrubs, and other sheltered locations. It is a beneficial predator of caterpillars and other garden pests.

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Did You Know?

Paper wasps chew wood fibres mixed with saliva to create their distinctive papery nests, a form of natural paper-making.

Xantholine Rove Beetle

An elongated, shiny black rove beetle with a distinctive long head. It hunts small invertebrates in soil and under bark.

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Did You Know?

Its extremely elongated head allows it to probe deep into bark crevices and soil pores for hidden prey.