Wax Scale vs Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wax Scale | Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceroplastes destructor | Pepsis fabricius |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Coccidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 35-55 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Oceania, Africa | South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Wax Scale
A scale insect that covers itself with a thick waxy dome for protection.
Did You Know?
Its waxy covering can be nearly a centimeter thick and perfectly dome-shaped.
Brazilian Wanderer Spider Wasp
A large metallic blue-black spider wasp with bright orange wings that hunts tarantulas as food for its larvae. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, then drags it to a burrow where a single egg is laid on the spider. The larva consumes the still-living spider from the inside.
Did You Know?
Its sting is rated among the most painful of all insect stings, scoring a 4 out of 4 on the Schmidt Pain Index.