Yellow Hornet vs Ant-Nest Hister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow Hornet Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
Scientific Name Vespa simillima Hetaerius ferrugineus
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Vespidae Histeridae
Size 21-28 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Detritivores
Regions East Asia, Japan/Korea Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Yellow Hornet

Known as 'ke-buchi-suzumebachi' in Japanese, a common hornet in Japan and Korea. Builds large paper nests in trees and under eaves. Less aggressive than the giant hornet but still capable of painful stings.

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Did You Know?

This species is responsible for more wasp stings in Japan than any other species because it frequently builds nests near human habitations.

Ant-Nest Hister Beetle

A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.

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Did You Know?

It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.