Blue Ant vs South American Wattle Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Ant South American Wattle Sawfly
Scientific Name Diamma bicolor Arge pullata
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tiphiidae Argidae
Size 20-25 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Underground Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Australia, Oceania Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Ant

Despite its name, the Blue Ant is actually a wingless flower wasp, not an ant. Females are metallic blue-green with a powerful sting and are commonly seen running across the ground in search of mole cricket larvae.

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Did You Know?

The wingless female resembles a large ant, while the smaller winged male looks like a completely different insect.

South American Wattle Sawfly

A shiny black argid sawfly that feeds on wattle (Acacia) trees. Larvae are green with dark dorsal markings and can cause significant defoliation.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the relatively few argid sawflies found in Africa, where the family is less diverse than in other continents.