Thread-waisted Wasp vs Long-winged Fungus Gnat
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thread-waisted Wasp | Long-winged Fungus Gnat |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammophila sabulosa | Macrocera stigma |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Mycetophilidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe |
| 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.
Long-winged Fungus Gnat
A delicate fungus gnat with unusually long antennae and slender patterned wings. It is often found in shaded damp woodland where it hunts small insects.
Did You Know?
Some Macrocera species have bioluminescent larvae, though less spectacularly than the cave glowworms.