Ant-Nest Hister Beetle vs American Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ant-Nest Hister Beetle | American Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hetaerius ferrugineus | Polyergus lucidus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Histeridae | Formicidae |
| Size | 1.5-2.5 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.
Did You Know?
It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.
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.