Great Golden Digger Wasp vs New Zealand Katipo Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Golden Digger Wasp | New Zealand Katipo Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphex ichneumoneus | Latrodectus katipo |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Araneae |
| Family | Sphecidae | Theridiidae |
| Size | 18-28 mm | 6-10 mm body |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Throughout the United States and southern Canada | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Great Golden Digger Wasp
A large solitary wasp with a golden-furred thorax and orange-red legs that digs burrows in sandy soil. It provisions its nest with paralyzed katydids and crickets.
Did You Know?
It always performs a specific inspection routine of its burrow before dragging prey inside, a behavior famously studied by early ethologists.
New Zealand Katipo Spider
New Zealand's most venomous spider, found only on coastal sand dunes. Although an arachnid, it is one of New Zealand's most iconic invertebrates. The name katipo means night stinger in Maori. It is now critically rare due to habitat loss.
Did You Know?
Despite being closely related to the black widow and redback spiders, no human deaths from katipo bites have been recorded in New Zealand.