Flower Wasp vs Blue Pansy

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flower Wasp Blue Pansy
Scientific Name Cerceris rybyensis Junonia orithya
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Crabronidae Nymphalidae
Size 8-14 mm 40-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos)
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.

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Did You Know?

Specializes in hunting mining bees (Andrena), catching them on flowers and carrying them back to its burrow.

Blue Pansy

A medium-sized butterfly with stunning bright blue hindwings bearing large eyespots and brown forewings with smaller orange-ringed ocelli. Males are more intensely blue than females.

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Did You Know?

The large eyespots on the hindwings are thought to deflect bird attacks toward the wing edge rather than the vulnerable body.