Garden Mantis vs Yellow Flower Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Garden Mantis Yellow Flower Wasp
Scientific Name Orthodera ministralis Radumeris tasmaniensis
Order Mantodea Hymenoptera
Family Mantidae Scoliidae
Size 35-50 mm 25-40 mm
Habitat Gardens Gardens
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Australia, Oceania Australia, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Garden Mantis

A small to medium-sized bright green praying mantis commonly found in Australian gardens. It has distinctive blue-purple spots on the inner surfaces of its forelegs, displayed when threatened.

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Did You Know?

The blue spots on its forearms are thought to startle predators and are unique among Australian mantis species.

Yellow Flower Wasp

A large, robust wasp with a bright yellow and black body commonly seen visiting flowers in Australian gardens. Females burrow into soil to parasitise beetle larvae, particularly Christmas beetle grubs.

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Did You Know?

Male yellow flower wasps are often seen carrying females during mating flights, sometimes visiting flowers while still coupled.