Japanese Spider Wasp vs Yellow Hornet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Spider Wasp Yellow Hornet
Scientific Name Batozonellus lacerticida Vespa simillima
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Pompilidae Vespidae
Size 15-25 mm 21-28 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Predators Fruit Feeders
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.

Yellow Hornet

Known as 'ke-buchi-suzumebachi' in Japanese, a common hornet in Japan and Korea. Builds large paper nests in trees and under eaves. Less aggressive than the giant hornet but still capable of painful stings.

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Did You Know?

This species is responsible for more wasp stings in Japan than any other species because it frequently builds nests near human habitations.