Black Garden Ant vs Japanese Horntail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Garden Ant | Japanese Horntail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lasius niger | Eriotremex formosanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Siricidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 20-35 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia, introduced to North America | East Asia, Taiwan, introduced to southeastern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Garden Ant
The most common ant in Europe, dark brown to black with a slightly pubescent body. Colonies are monogynous and can persist for decades under a single long-lived queen. Workers are highly adaptable generalist foragers.
Did You Know?
Queens of this species can live for nearly 30 years, making them some of the longest-lived insects on Earth.
Japanese Horntail
A large wood wasp with a robust reddish-brown body and dark wings. Native to East Asia, it attacks stressed and recently felled hardwood trees.
Did You Know?
This species was first detected in North America in 1974 and is one of the few tropical siricid wood wasps to establish invasive populations.