Yellow-legged Ophion vs Click Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Yellow-legged Ophion | Click Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ophion scutellaris | Alaus oculatus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Elateridae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 25-45 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Yellow-legged Ophion
A large orange-brown ichneumon wasp commonly attracted to light at night. Parasitizes large moth caterpillars. Has a laterally compressed, blade-like abdomen.
Did You Know?
One of the most commonly reported ichneumon wasps in houses, drawn to lights on summer evenings.
Click Beetle
Has a special mechanism that allows it to snap its body with a click, launching itself up to 30 cm into the air. The large eyespots on its thorax startle predators.
Did You Know?
Click beetles launch themselves into the air without using their legs — they use a peg-and-groove mechanism on their thorax that releases like a spring, reaching accelerations of 400g.