Field Digger Wasp vs Splendid Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Field Digger Wasp Splendid Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Mellinus arvensis Philonthus splendens
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Crabronidae Staphylinidae
Size 10-14mm 11-14 mm
Habitat Heathland Grasslands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Field Digger Wasp

A yellow and black wasp that nests in sandy soil and provisions each cell with paralyzed hoverflies.

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Did You Know?

Digs a nest burrow in bare sandy soil and stocks each cell with 5-8 precisely paralyzed hoverflies.

Splendid Rove Beetle

A large, shiny black rove beetle associated with mammal dung. Found across European pasturelands. An effective predator of dung fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

One of the largest European Philonthus species, making it a dominant predator within dung communities.