Yellow Hornet vs Fleck-winged Hoverfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow Hornet Fleck-winged Hoverfly
Scientific Name Vespa simillima Dasysyrphus albostriatus
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Vespidae Syrphidae
Size 21-28 mm 9-12 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions East Asia, Japan/Korea Europe, Asia
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.

Fleck-winged Hoverfly

A woodland hoverfly with white crescent markings on a dark abdomen. It is one of the earliest hoverflies to appear in spring.

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Did You Know?

It is sometimes called the white-striped hoverfly because of the distinctive pale marks on its dark abdomen.