Acrobat Ant vs Giant Wood Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Acrobat Ant | Giant Wood Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crematogaster scutellaris | Temnostoma vespiforme |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Southern Europe, North Africa | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Acrobat Ant
A Mediterranean ant with a heart-shaped abdomen it raises over its thorax when alarmed. They nest in dead wood, old walls, and cork oak bark.
Did You Know?
They can raise their abdomen over their head to smear venom on attackers, earning them the name acrobat ants.
Giant Wood Hoverfly
A large, wasp-mimicking hoverfly with yellow and black banding and a slender waist. Its larvae develop in decaying wood of fallen trees in old-growth forests.
Did You Know?
It is considered an indicator species for ancient woodland due to its dependence on large volumes of decaying timber.