European Hornet vs Western Cicada Killer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Hornet | Western Cicada Killer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vespa crabro | Sphecius grandis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm | 30-55 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
European Hornet
The largest European wasp, with a brown and yellow striped body and reddish-brown head and thorax. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is relatively docile for a social wasp.
Did You Know?
European hornets are one of the few wasp species that actively hunt at night, attracted to lights where they capture other insects.
Western Cicada Killer
A massive solitary wasp of the American West that hunts cicadas to provision its underground burrows. It is slightly larger and paler than its eastern relative.
Did You Know?
Despite its intimidating size, it is generally docile toward humans and males cannot sting at all.