Banded Chalcid Wasp vs Thread-waisted Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Chalcid Wasp | Thread-waisted Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcis sispes | Ammophila sabulosa |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chalcididae | Sphecidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 16-24 mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Predators |
| Regions | Southern Europe, North Africa | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banded Chalcid Wasp
A robust chalcid wasp with enlarged hind femora bearing tooth-like projections. It parasitizes the pupae of various flies and lepidopterans.
Did You Know?
Its massively swollen hind legs, armed with sharp teeth, help it grip surfaces when drilling into host pupae.
Thread-waisted Wasp
An elegant wasp with an extremely narrow petiole and red-banded abdomen. It hunts caterpillars and carries them clasped beneath its body to sandy burrows.
Did You Know?
It uses a small pebble as a tool to tamp down the sand plug sealing its burrow, one of the earliest documented cases of tool use in insects.