Bristly Tachinid Fly vs Paper Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bristly Tachinid Fly | Paper Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nowickia ferox | Polistes dominula |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tachinidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, worldwide (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bristly Tachinid Fly
A large, heavily bristled tachinid fly with a gray-checkered pattern on the abdomen. It is conspicuously spiny and frequently visits flowers in late summer.
Did You Know?
Its exceptionally long and stiff bristles are thought to help prevent birds from swallowing it.
Paper Wasp
Builds open-comb nests from chewed wood fiber mixed with saliva, creating paper-like material. Has a complex social hierarchy with facial pattern recognition between individuals.
Did You Know?
Paper wasps can recognize individual faces — they use facial patterns to identify nestmates and establish dominance hierarchies, one of the few insects known to have face recognition.