Virginia Wood Cockroach vs Large Square-headed Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Virginia Wood Cockroach Large Square-headed Wasp
Scientific Name Parcoblatta virginica Ectemnius cephalotes
Order Blattodea Hymenoptera
Family Ectobiidae Crabronidae
Size 12-20 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Wood Feeders
Regions Eastern United States Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Virginia Wood Cockroach

A woodland cockroach native to the eastern United States. It is closely related to the Pennsylvania wood cockroach but slightly smaller.

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Did You Know?

It plays an important role in forest ecosystems by breaking down leaf litter and recycling nutrients.

Large Square-headed Wasp

A large solitary wasp that nests in dead wood and provisions its nest with captured flies. Has a distinctively large, square-shaped head. Common in gardens and woodland.

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Did You Know?

Nests in old beetle holes in dead wood, stocking each cell with paralyzed flies for its developing larvae.