Wasp Beetle vs Zodion Thick-headed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wasp Beetle Zodion Thick-headed Fly
Scientific Name Clytus arietis Zodion cinereum
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Cerambycidae Conopidae
Size 7-14 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Wood Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wasp Beetle

A longhorn beetle with yellow and black banding that mimics a common wasp. It even moves in a jerky, wasp-like manner.

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Did You Know?

It is completely harmless but its convincing wasp mimicry deters most predators.

Zodion Thick-headed Fly

A small, grayish-brown conopid fly with a slightly swollen head and prominent proboscis. It is commonly found on flowers where it stalks small bees and wasps for parasitism.

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Did You Know?

Unlike larger conopids that tackle bumblebees, this species specializes in parasitizing smaller sweat bees and halictids.