Big-headed Fly vs Red Harvester Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Big-headed Fly Red Harvester Ant
Scientific Name Pipunculus campestris Pogonomyrmex barbatus
Order Diptera Hymenoptera
Family Pipunculidae Formicidae
Size 3-6 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Farmland Deserts & Drylands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Big-headed Fly

A small fly with an enormously enlarged, almost entirely eye-covered spherical head. It hovers in vegetation searching for leafhopper hosts in which to parasitize.

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Did You Know?

Its enormous eyes give it near-360-degree vision, allowing it to spot leafhoppers from any angle while hovering.

Red Harvester Ant

A large red ant that builds conspicuous mound nests cleared of vegetation in arid terrain. Workers collect seeds and store them in underground granaries.

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Did You Know?

Its sting is rated among the most painful of any insect, and its venom is the most toxic of any known insect venom by weight.