Banded Velvet Ant vs Corsican Seed-Harvesting Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Velvet Ant | Corsican Seed-Harvesting Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla occidentalis africana | Messor wasmanni |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 4-11 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Southern Africa, East Africa | Western Mediterranean (Spain, France, Corsica, North Africa) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banded Velvet Ant
A wingless wasp covered in dense orange and black velvety hair. Despite the name, it is actually a solitary wasp, not an ant.
Did You Know?
Their sting is so painful it has earned them the nickname 'cow killer' despite being unable to actually kill cattle.
Corsican Seed-Harvesting Ant
A large dark harvester ant found in the western Mediterranean region. Major workers have broad heads for seed processing. Colonies build extensive granaries deep underground for storing seeds through the hot dry summer.
Did You Know?
They sun-dry moistened seeds at the nest entrance on warm days to prevent germination and fungal growth in their underground granaries.