African Acacia Ant vs Dawson's Burrowing Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Acacia Ant Dawson's Burrowing Bee
Scientific Name Pseudomyrmex sp. (African mimic: Tetraponera penzigi) Amegilla dawsoni
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 3-6 mm 18-24 mm
Habitat Grasslands Heathland
Diet Gall Makers Nectar Feeders
Regions East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania Western Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Acacia Ant

A slender ant inhabiting the swollen galls of whistling thorn acacias in East Africa. Multiple ant species compete for occupation of these trees in a well-studied ecological system.

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Did You Know?

Four different ant species compete for whistling thorn acacias, with each species altering tree growth in different ways.

Dawson's Burrowing Bee

A large solitary bee endemic to Western Australia that nests in massive aggregations in hardpan clay. Males engage in violent aerial combat to mate with emerging females.

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Did You Know?

Male combat is so fierce that individuals frequently die from injuries sustained during mating battles.