Thread-waisted Wasp vs Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thread-waisted Wasp | Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammophila sabulosa | Ontholestes tessellatus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm | 14-20 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Gold-and-Brown Rove Beetle
A large rove beetle covered in a mosaic of golden and dark brown hairs. It frequents dung and carrion where it preys on fly larvae.
Did You Know?
Its tessellated hair pattern acts as camouflage against the mottled surfaces of dung and decaying matter.