American Slave-Maker Ant vs Spotted-eye Hover Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | American Slave-Maker Ant | Spotted-eye Hover Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyergus lucidus | Eristalinus taeniops |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Throughout Africa |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
American Slave-Maker Ant
A North American slave-making ant that conducts well-organized raids on Formica colonies. New queens infiltrate host colonies by killing the resident queen.
Did You Know?
During raids, they release propaganda pheromones that cause defending ants to flee or fight each other instead of the raiders.
Spotted-eye Hover Fly
A large hover fly with distinctively striped compound eyes and a bee-like body. It is an excellent pollinator found throughout Africa.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a telescoping siphon while living in stagnant water.