Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp vs Blue Mud Dauber
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp | Blue Mud Dauber |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis fabricius | Chalybion californicum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Sphecidae |
| Size | 35-55 mm | 10-23 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Gardens |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
A large metallic blue-black spider wasp with bright orange wings that hunts tarantulas as food for its larvae. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, then drags it to a burrow where a single egg is laid on the spider. The larva consumes the still-living spider from the inside.
Did You Know?
Its sting is rated among the most painful of all insect stings, scoring a 4 out of 4 on the Schmidt Pain Index.
Blue Mud Dauber
A metallic blue wasp that preys on black widow spiders. It reuses mud nests built by other dauber species rather than constructing its own.
Did You Know?
It specifically targets black widow spiders to provision its nest.