Double-banded Scoliid vs European Spider Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Double-banded Scoliid European Spider Wasp
Scientific Name Scolia bicincta Episyron albonotatum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Scoliidae Pompilidae
Size 15-22 mm 8-14 mm
Habitat Gardens Beaches & Coastal
Diet Nectar Feeders Predators
Regions Eastern North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Double-banded Scoliid

A robust black wasp with two prominent yellow bands across the abdomen. It is a beneficial garden insect that parasitizes scarab beetle grubs in lawns.

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Did You Know?

Gardeners often mistake it for a dangerous wasp, but it is actually a beneficial predator of lawn-destroying grubs.

European Spider Wasp

A medium-sized black spider wasp with white markings that hunts orb-weaving spiders across Europe. It nests in sandy soil near the edges of paths.

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Did You Know?

It carries captured spiders by flying short distances while holding them underneath its body.