Brachymeria Chalcid vs Slave-Making Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brachymeria Chalcid Slave-Making Ant
Scientific Name Brachymeria intermedia Formica sanguinea
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Chalcididae Formicidae
Size 3-5 mm 5-9 mm
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Parasitoids Omnivores
Regions North America, Europe, Asia Europe, Western Asia, Japan
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Brachymeria Chalcid

A stocky black chalcid wasp that is a hyperparasitoid, attacking other parasitoid wasps inside their hosts. It has become a significant pupal parasitoid of the gypsy moth.

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Did You Know?

It is a parasitoid that parasitizes other parasitoids, making it a hyperparasitoid with a complex trophic role.

Slave-Making Ant

A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.

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Did You Know?

Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.