Thread-waisted Wasp vs Blue Horntail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thread-waisted Wasp | Blue Horntail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammophila sabulosa | Sirex juvencus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Siricidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm | 12–30 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, North America, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Thread-waisted Wasp
An elegant wasp with an extremely narrow petiole and red-banded abdomen. It hunts caterpillars and carries them clasped beneath its body to sandy burrows.
Did You Know?
It uses a small pebble as a tool to tamp down the sand plug sealing its burrow, one of the earliest documented cases of tool use in insects.
Blue Horntail
A metallic blue-black horntail wasp found across the Northern Hemisphere. It breeds in recently dead or dying spruce and fir trees.
Did You Know?
Adults sometimes emerge from milled lumber years later, boring clean round exit holes through flooring or walls.