Blue-black Spider Wasp vs Heath Grasshopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-black Spider Wasp | Heath Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anoplius viaticus | Chorthippus vagans |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Acrididae |
| Size | 8-15 mm | 12-18mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
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.
Heath Grasshopper
A small brown grasshopper confined to heathland. One of the rarest grasshoppers in Britain.
Did You Know?
Confined to a handful of heathland sites in Dorset and threatened by heathland loss and scrub encroachment.