Army Ant vs South African Alderfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Army Ant | South African Alderfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eciton burchellii | Leptosialis africana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Megaloptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Sialidae |
| Size | 3-12 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Mountains |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
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.
South African Alderfly
One of the few alderfly species found in the Southern Hemisphere, occurring in clean mountain streams of South Africa. Adults are small with dark wings.
Did You Know?
Southern Hemisphere alderflies are so rare and poorly studied that basic aspects of their biology remain unknown to science.