Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp vs Narrow-headed Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp | Narrow-headed Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysis succincta | Formica exsecta |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysididae | Formicidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp
A medium-sized cuckoo wasp with a metallic green forebody and a warm coppery-gold abdomen. It parasitizes the nests of cavity-nesting solitary bees.
Did You Know?
Its heavy, pitted exoskeleton acts like armor plating, protecting it from the stings of host wasps defending their nests.
Narrow-headed Ant
A bicolored red and black wood ant with a distinctly notched head. It builds low thatched mounds in open heathland and is declining across much of its European range.
Did You Know?
In the UK it is one of the rarest ant species and is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.