Western Cicada Killer vs Woodlouse Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Western Cicada Killer Woodlouse Cockroach
Scientific Name Sphecius grandis Prosoplecta semperi
Order Hymenoptera Blattodea
Family Crabronidae Ectobiidae
Size 30-55 mm 5-8mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Forests
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Western Cicada Killer

A massive solitary wasp of the American West that hunts cicadas to provision its underground burrows. It is slightly larger and paler than its eastern relative.

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Did You Know?

Despite its intimidating size, it is generally docile toward humans and males cannot sting at all.

Woodlouse Cockroach

A tiny rounded cockroach that strongly resembles a ladybird beetle with its domed shape and red-orange coloring with black spots. It is a harmless forest floor species. Its mimicry deters predators.

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Did You Know?

It so closely resembles a ladybird that even entomologists can be fooled until they look at it under magnification.