Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp vs Globular Tachinid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp | Globular Tachinid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis fabricius | Gymnosoma rotundatum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Tachinidae |
| Size | 35-55 mm | 6-8 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Parasites |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) | Europe |
| 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.
Globular Tachinid
A distinctive round-bodied parasitic fly colored bright orange-red with black markings. Parasitizes shieldbugs. One of the most easily recognized tachinid flies.
Did You Know?
The unusually round, bright orange body makes this one of the most recognizable parasitic flies.