Borneo Giant Firefly vs Desert Blond Tarantula Hawk

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Borneo Giant Firefly Desert Blond Tarantula Hawk
Scientific Name Lamprigera borneensis Pepsis thisbe
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Lampyridae Pompilidae
Size 25-60 mm (female), 12-18 mm (male) 25-45 mm
Habitat Forests Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Southeast Asia, Borneo North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Borneo Giant Firefly

A very large tropical firefly from Borneo with massive larviform females that glow brightly. Males are smaller and winged with well-developed eyes for locating glowing females on the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

The enormous larviform females are sometimes mistaken for caterpillars or worms by people encountering them on the forest floor.

Desert Blond Tarantula Hawk

A large metallic blue-black spider wasp with vibrant orange wings found in the Sonoran Desert. Females hunt blonde tarantulas as food for their larvae.

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Did You Know?

It is the official state insect of New Mexico despite having one of the most painful stings of any insect.