Mason Wasp vs Margined Leatherwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mason Wasp Margined Leatherwing
Scientific Name Ancistrocerus nigricornis Chauliognathus marginatus
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Vespidae Cantharidae
Size 10-14 mm 9-12 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mason Wasp

A small black and yellow solitary wasp that nests in pre-existing holes and hollow stems. It provisions each cell with paralyzed moth caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It readily uses artificial bee hotels, making it one of the easiest solitary wasps to attract to gardens.

Margined Leatherwing

An early-summer soldier beetle found across eastern North America with yellow elytra edged in dark margins. It visits a wide variety of flowers.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the similar goldenrod soldier beetle, this species appears in late spring rather than autumn.