Japanese Spider Wasp vs Japanese Emperor Dragonfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Spider Wasp Japanese Emperor Dragonfly
Scientific Name Batozonellus lacerticida Anax parthenope julius
Order Hymenoptera Odonata
Family Pompilidae Aeshnidae
Size 15-25 mm 70-80 mm body length
Habitat Underground Wetlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe, Asia, Japan East Asia, Japan/Korea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Spider Wasp

A large black spider wasp with yellow-banded legs found across Eurasia. It hunts large orb-weaver spiders and provisions underground burrows with its prey.

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Did You Know?

It specifically targets large Argiope garden spiders, plucking them directly from their webs.

Japanese Emperor Dragonfly

A large hawker dragonfly and one of the most powerful aerial predators in Japanese wetlands. Known as 'gin-yanma' for its silvery-blue markings. Males patrol territories aggressively over ponds.

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Did You Know?

This dragonfly can fly at speeds exceeding 30 km/h and catch prey in mid-air using its legs as a basket-like scoop.