Army Ant vs European Spruce Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Army Ant | European Spruce Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eciton burchellii | Gilpinia hercyniae |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Diprionidae |
| Size | 3-12 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Army Ant
Nomadic ants that do not build permanent nests. Raids of up to 200,000 workers sweep through the forest floor consuming everything in their path. Workers link bodies to form living bridges.
Did You Know?
Army ants build living structures from their own bodies — bridges, walls, and bivouacs made of 500,000 ants linked together, complete with climate-controlled nursery chambers inside.
European Spruce Sawfly
A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white lateral stripes and feed on spruce needles.
Did You Know?
After its introduction to North America in the 1920s, it caused massive spruce defoliation until a naturally occurring nuclear polyhedrosis virus brought populations under control.