Southern Rove Beetle vs Red-winged Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Rove Beetle | Red-winged Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Philonthus spinipes | Tachypompilus ferrugineus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 18-28 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Mediterranean Europe, North Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Southern Rove Beetle
A shiny, black rove beetle with distinctive spiny hind tibiae. It is a fast-running predator commonly found under stones and debris in drier, warmer habitats of southern Europe.
Did You Know?
The spiny tibiae that give this species its name are used as weapons in combat with rival males over territory and mates.
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.