Banded Fungus Beetle vs Large Square-headed Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Banded Fungus Beetle Large Square-headed Wasp
Scientific Name Triplax russica Ectemnius cephalotes
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Erotylidae Crabronidae
Size 3-5 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Banded Fungus Beetle

A small, attractively colored beetle with a red thorax and dark blue-black elytra. Lives on bracket fungi on dead trees. Part of a family known for bright coloring.

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Did You Know?

The contrasting red and blue-black coloring makes this one of the most attractive fungus beetles.

Large Square-headed Wasp

A large solitary wasp that nests in dead wood and provisions its nest with captured flies. Has a distinctively large, square-shaped head. Common in gardens and woodland.

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Did You Know?

Nests in old beetle holes in dead wood, stocking each cell with paralyzed flies for its developing larvae.