Ribbon-winged Lacewing vs Red-winged Spider Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ribbon-winged Lacewing Red-winged Spider Wasp
Scientific Name Nemoptera coa Tachypompilus ferrugineus
Order Neuroptera Hymenoptera
Family Nemopteridae Pompilidae
Size 30-38 mm wingspan (forewings) 18-28 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Greece, Turkey, Aegean Islands North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Ribbon-winged Lacewing

A graceful Aegean lacewing with long ribbon-like hindwings and patterned forewings. Found on dry, flower-rich hillsides of Greek islands.

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Did You Know?

It is a popular subject for nature photographers visiting the Greek islands in late spring.

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.

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Did You Know?

Females can drag spiders many times their own weight across rough terrain to reach their nesting burrows.