Argentine Ant vs Punctate Sweat Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Argentine Ant Punctate Sweat Bee
Scientific Name Linepithema humile Lasioglossum punctatissimum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Halictidae
Size 2-3 mm 5-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Grasslands
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions South America, worldwide (invasive) Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Argentine Ant

Forms massive supercolonies spanning thousands of kilometers. One supercolony stretches 6,000 km along the Mediterranean coast. Displaces native ant species worldwide.

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Did You Know?

Argentine ants have formed a global megacolony — ants from Japan, California, and Europe recognize each other as nestmates and will not fight, forming one worldwide supercolony.

Punctate Sweat Bee

A tiny, dark furrow bee with dense punctation covering its thorax and head. It is one of the most common but overlooked solitary bees in European grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Its heavily sculpted exoskeleton with thousands of tiny pits gives it a matte finish that distinguishes it from shinier related species.