Flower Wasp vs Australian Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flower Wasp | Australian Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cerceris rybyensis | Ephutomorpha queenslandica |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Crabronidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 8-14 mm | 8-15 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flower Wasp
A solitary wasp that hunts small mining bees to provision its nest. Nests in sandy soil, often in dense aggregations. Distinguished from other wasps by its hunting specialization.
Did You Know?
Specializes in hunting mining bees (Andrena), catching them on flowers and carrying them back to its burrow.
Australian Velvet Ant
An Australian wingless wasp with orange and black velvety coloring. It parasitizes ground-nesting native bees in tropical and subtropical Queensland.
Did You Know?
Australian velvet ants are far less studied than their American counterparts, with many species still awaiting formal description.