African Stink Ant vs Japanese Maple Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Stink Ant Japanese Maple Sawfly
Scientific Name Paltothyreus tarsatus Megalodontes cephalotes
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Pamphiliidae
Size 15-20 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Indoors Meadows
Diet Seed Feeders Herbivores
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa Southern and Central Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Stink Ant

A very large black ponerine ant that releases a foul-smelling secretion when disturbed. It is one of Africa's most conspicuous ground-dwelling ants with a powerful sting.

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Did You Know?

Its defensive odor is so pungent it can be smelled by humans from over a meter away.

Japanese Maple Sawfly

A colorful web-spinning sawfly with a large head, bright orange body, and distinctive long antennae. It is associated with umbelliferous plants in southern Europe.

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Did You Know?

Despite its common association with umbellifers, this species belongs to a family mostly known for conifer and broadleaf tree feeders.