Blue-black Spider Wasp vs Snail-killing Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-black Spider Wasp | Snail-killing Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anoplius viaticus | Tetanocera elata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Sciomyzidae |
| Size | 8-15 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Wetlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, North America |
| 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.
Snail-killing Fly
A wetland fly whose larvae are specialized predators or parasitoids of land snails. It has been investigated as a biocontrol agent for pest snails.
Did You Know?
Larvae enter the snail's shell and consume it alive over several days.