Blue-black Spider Wasp vs Brown Chafer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue-black Spider Wasp Brown Chafer
Scientific Name Anoplius viaticus Serica brunnea
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Pompilidae Scarabaeidae
Size 8-15 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Predators Root Feeders
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.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the first solitary wasps to appear each spring in northern Europe, sometimes flying as early as March.

Brown Chafer

A small chestnut-brown beetle with a velvety sheen to its elytra. It is nocturnal and attracted to lights on warm summer nights.

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Did You Know?

Its velvety appearance is caused by tiny, densely packed hairs covering the entire body surface.