European Banded Ichneumon vs Tarantula Hawk
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Banded Ichneumon | Tarantula Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amblyteles armatorius | Pepsis grossa |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 14-18 mm | 40-65 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
European Banded Ichneumon
A striking black and yellow ichneumon wasp that closely resembles a social wasp. It is a common parasitoid of noctuid moth pupae in soil.
Did You Know?
Its convincing mimicry of social wasps protects it from predators despite being completely harmless to humans.
Tarantula Hawk
A giant wasp that hunts tarantulas. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, drags it to a burrow, and lays an egg on it — the larva eats the spider alive.
Did You Know?
The tarantula hawk has the second most painful sting of any insect — but the pain lasts only about 5 minutes. Scientists recommend just lying down and screaming.