Thread-waisted Wasp vs Wall Brown
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thread-waisted Wasp | Wall Brown |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammophila sabulosa | Lasiommata megera |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm | Wingspan 36-50mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| 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.
Wall Brown
An orange-brown butterfly with eyespots that basks with wings open on walls, rocks and bare ground.
Did You Know?
Named for its habit of sunbathing on warm walls and has sadly declined across much of western Europe.