Short-winged Firefly vs African Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Short-winged Firefly | African Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lucidota atra | Hemipepsis capensis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 8-13 mm | 30-50 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Southern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Short-winged Firefly
A dark-bodied, day-active firefly that has lost the ability to produce light as an adult. It has a black body with a reddish-orange pronotum and is often found on tree trunks and vegetation.
Did You Know?
Despite being a firefly, this diurnal species relies on chemical pheromones rather than light signals to find mates.
African Spider Wasp
A very large blue-black wasp with bright orange wings that hunts baboon spiders. It is one of Africa's largest solitary wasps.
Did You Know?
A single female can overpower and paralyze a baboon spider three times her own weight with a precisely placed sting.