Giant Wood Hoverfly vs Tanbark Borer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Wood Hoverfly | Tanbark Borer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Temnostoma vespiforme | Phymatodes testaceus |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 14-18 mm | 8-17 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, North Africa, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Wood Hoverfly
A large, wasp-mimicking hoverfly with yellow and black banding and a slender waist. Its larvae develop in decaying wood of fallen trees in old-growth forests.
Did You Know?
It is considered an indicator species for ancient woodland due to its dependence on large volumes of decaying timber.
Tanbark Borer
A small, highly variable cerambycid ranging from pale yellow to dark brown or violet. It breeds under the bark of recently dead oaks across Europe and North America. Adults are nocturnal and come freely to lights.
Did You Know?
Color variation in this species is so extreme that over a dozen color forms have been named, all belonging to one species.