Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle vs Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ontholestes tessellatus | Pepsis fabricius |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 14-20 mm | 35-55 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle
A large rove beetle covered in a mosaic of golden and dark brown hairs. It frequents dung and carrion where it preys on fly larvae.
Did You Know?
Its tessellated hair pattern acts as camouflage against the mottled surfaces of dung and decaying matter.
Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
A large metallic blue-black spider wasp with bright orange wings that hunts tarantulas as food for its larvae. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, then drags it to a burrow where a single egg is laid on the spider. The larva consumes the still-living spider from the inside.
Did You Know?
Its sting is rated among the most painful of all insect stings, scoring a 4 out of 4 on the Schmidt Pain Index.