Barberi's Angel Insect vs Lower Attine Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Barberi's Angel Insect Lower Attine Ant
Scientific Name Zorotypus barberi Cyphomyrmex rimosus
Order Zoraptera Hymenoptera
Family Zorotypidae Formicidae
Size 2-3 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Forests Gardens
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Central America, Panama Southern United States, Central and South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Barberi's Angel Insect

A tiny colonial insect living in decomposing wood in tropical forests. It exhibits dimorphism, with blind apterous and eyed alate forms.

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Did You Know?

This species was one of the first zorapterans discovered in Central America.

Lower Attine Ant

A tiny, cryptic fungus-growing ant with a rugose and heavily sculptured dark brown body. Workers cultivate yeast rather than the mycelial fungus of more derived attines. They collect insect frass and dead plant material for their yeast gardens.

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Did You Know?

Unlike their famous leafcutter relatives, they grow a yeast-like fungus rather than the mushroom-like fungi cultivated by Atta and Acromyrmex.