Ant Cricket vs Dark-winged Fungus Gnat
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ant Cricket | Dark-winged Fungus Gnat |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecophilus acervorum | Sciara hemerobioides |
| Order | Orthoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Gryllidae | Mycetophilidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ant Cricket
A minute, wingless cricket that lives inside ant nests as a social parasite. It is oval-shaped and moves quickly among its host ants.
Did You Know?
It acquires its host ants' cuticular hydrocarbons to smell like them, allowing it to live undetected inside their colony.
Dark-winged Fungus Gnat
A small, dark fungus gnat with smoky wings and long slender antennae. Its larvae are known for forming spectacular marching columns of thousands of individuals.
Did You Know?
Larvae form army-like processions of thousands marching in columns across forest floors, a phenomenon called 'Heerwurm' in German.