# Wasp Beetle (*Clytus arietis*) The Wasp Beetle is a cool insect that looks like a wasp! It has bright yellow and black stripes, which help it scare away predators. These beetles are often found on flowers and trees. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Wasp Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Clyte_b%C3%A9lier_-_MHNT_-_Vue_dorsale.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clyte_b%C3%A9lier_-_MHNT_-_Vue_dorsale.jpg) ## Appearance The Wasp Beetle has a slender, black body adorned with striking bright yellow bands, making it strongly resemble a wasp. Its antennae are relatively long and dark, and it features a distinctive yellow-striped pronotum (the plate behind its head). ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cerambycidae - **Genus:** Clytus ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, \*Clytus arietis\*, means "famous ram" in Greek and Latin! - They wiggle their long antennae just like a wasp to complete their amazing disguise. - Wasp beetles can sometimes emerge from old logs used to build houses! - You might spot them on flowers, but they're beetles, not actual stinging wasps! ## Special abilities - **Master Mimic:** Wasp Beetle can perfectly mimic wasps because its yellow and black stripes deter predators who confuse it with a stinging insect. - **Wood-Boring Larvae:** Wasp Beetle larvae can bore into dead wood because of their strong mandibles, allowing them to eat and develop safely for years. - **Nectar Sipper:** Wasp Beetle has a strong proboscis that helps them sip nectar from various flowers, providing energy for their adult life. - **Flower Helper:** Wasp Beetle has slightly hairy bodies that help them collect and spread pollen as they visit flowers, aiding plant reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-36 mm - **Size:** 6-18 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae munch on decaying wood. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume decaying wood, while adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Decaying wood, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — A tasty meal for hungry tit birds. - **Pollinates:** Elderflower (*Sambucus nigra*) — Helps elderflower plants make new seeds. - **Depends on:** Pedunculated Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Larvae develop inside its dead or decaying wood. - **Hunts:** [Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spotted-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos major*) — Woodpeckers hunt its larvae in dead wood. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch these beetles from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wasp Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Wasp Beetle's wingspan? 12-36 mm ### How big is Wasp Beetle? 6-18 mm ### How long does Wasp Beetle live? 20-60 days ### How fast can Wasp Beetle fly? 8 km/h ### What does Wasp Beetle eat? Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae munch on decaying wood. ### Where is Wasp Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does Wasp Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Zoo de la Palmyre](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-la-palmyre) — Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR · Zoo - [Pairi Daiza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pairi-daiza) — Hainaut, BE · Zoo ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Wasp Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wasp-beetle)