Blue-black Spider Wasp vs Black Clock Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-black Spider Wasp | Black Clock Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anoplius viaticus | Pterostichus madidus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 8-15 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Gardens |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue-black Spider Wasp
A dark metallic blue spider wasp with orange-red abdominal bands. It hunts wolf spiders on sandy heathlands and dunes across Europe.
Did You Know?
It is one of the first solitary wasps to appear each spring in northern Europe, sometimes flying as early as March.
Black Clock Beetle
A common nocturnal ground beetle found throughout European gardens and farmland. It is jet black and a voracious predator of slugs and pest insects.
Did You Know?
Gardeners consider it one of the most beneficial beetles because a single individual can eat its body weight in slug eggs every night.