Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp vs Pavement Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp | Pavement Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis fabricius | Tetramorium caespitum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 35-55 mm | 2.5-4 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
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.
Pavement Ant
A common urban ant that nests under sidewalks, driveways, and building foundations. They are well known for their spectacular territorial wars fought on pavements in spring.
Did You Know?
Rival colonies wage mass battles on sidewalks involving thousands of workers grappling in one-on-one combat.