Australian Velvet Ant vs Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Velvet Ant Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant
Scientific Name Ephutomorpha queenslandica Camponotus edmondi
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Mutillidae Formicidae
Size 8-15 mm 6-14 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Parasitoids Sap Feeders
Regions Australia Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Velvet Ant

An Australian wingless wasp with orange and black velvety coloring. It parasitizes ground-nesting native bees in tropical and subtropical Queensland.

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Did You Know?

Australian velvet ants are far less studied than their American counterparts, with many species still awaiting formal description.

Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant

A medium-large carpenter ant with a bicolored body, typically dark head and gaster with a reddish-brown thorax. Workers are polymorphic, with major workers having disproportionately large heads.

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Did You Know?

Major workers can use their oversized heads to physically block the nest entrance, acting as living doors.