Hover Fly vs Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hover Fly | Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Syrphus ribesii | Chrysis succincta |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Chrysididae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hover Fly
A bright yellow and black banded hoverfly that is an excellent wasp mimic. It hovers motionless in sunbeams before darting to a new position with extraordinary agility.
Did You Know?
Hoverflies are the only insects besides hummingbirds and hawk-moths that can truly hover in one spot, fly backward, and fly sideways with precision.
Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp
A medium-sized cuckoo wasp with a metallic green forebody and a warm coppery-gold abdomen. It parasitizes the nests of cavity-nesting solitary bees.
Did You Know?
Its heavy, pitted exoskeleton acts like armor plating, protecting it from the stings of host wasps defending their nests.