Tarantula Hawk vs Bordered Rose Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tarantula Hawk | Bordered Rose Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis grossa | Arge cyanocrocea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Argidae |
| Size | 40-65 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America, South America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tarantula Hawk
A giant wasp that hunts tarantulas. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, drags it to a burrow, and lays an egg on it — the larva eats the spider alive.
Did You Know?
The tarantula hawk has the second most painful sting of any insect — but the pain lasts only about 5 minutes. Scientists recommend just lying down and screaming.
Bordered Rose Sawfly
A compact sawfly with a striking combination of an orange body and metallic blue-black wings. Larvae are green with orange heads and feed on rose leaves.
Did You Know?
This species is sometimes confused with its relative Arge ochropus, but can be distinguished by its blue-tinged rather than purple-tinged wings.