Blue Mountains Glowworm vs Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Mountains Glowworm | Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arachnocampa richardsae | Acromyrmex octospinosus |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mycetophilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 2-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Central America, Caribbean, northern South America, Brazil |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Mountains Glowworm
An Australian bioluminescent fungus gnat closely related to the New Zealand glowworm. Its larvae hang from cave ceilings and rainforest overhangs, emitting a blue-green glow.
Did You Know?
Different Arachnocampa species emit slightly different colors of light, from blue-green to green-yellow.
Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant
A smaller leaf-cutter ant species covered in spiny tubercles on its body. It forms more modest colonies than Atta but is equally dependent on fungal agriculture.
Did You Know?
Workers produce antibiotic compounds from bacteria on their bodies to protect their fungal gardens from parasitic molds.