Great Pied Hoverfly vs Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Pied Hoverfly | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Volucella bombylans | Pepsis fabricius |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 35-55 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, North America | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Pied Hoverfly
A furry hoverfly that exists in multiple colour forms, each mimicking a different bumblebee species. Larvae develop inside bumblebee nests.
Did You Know?
Different colour forms mimic different bumblebee species, with some resembling red-tailed and others white-tailed bumblebees.
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.