Argentine Ant vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Argentine Ant | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Linepithema humile | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | South America, worldwide (invasive) | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| 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.
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.
Slave-Making Ant
A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.
Did You Know?
Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.