Red-winged Spider Wasp vs South African Graphipterus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red-winged Spider Wasp | South African Graphipterus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tachypompilus ferrugineus | Graphipterus serrator |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 18-28 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Red-winged Spider Wasp
A large rusty-red spider wasp that hunts wolf spiders and other large ground spiders. It drags paralyzed prey across the ground to its burrow.
Did You Know?
Females can drag spiders many times their own weight across rough terrain to reach their nesting burrows.
South African Graphipterus
A flattened, distinctively patterned ground beetle with white and black markings on its broad, flat elytra. It hides under stones in arid regions and is beautifully camouflaged on sandy ground.
Did You Know?
Its flat body shape and bold black-and-white pattern make it one of the most visually distinctive ground beetles in Africa, and it can wedge itself so tightly under rocks that it is nearly impossible to remove.