California Harvester Ant vs Lesser Grain Borer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute California Harvester Ant Lesser Grain Borer
Scientific Name Pogonomyrmex californicus Rhyzopertha dominica
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Formicidae Bostrichidae
Size 5-7 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Gardens
Diet Seed Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions North America Worldwide tropical and subtropical regions
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

California Harvester Ant

A small harvester ant found in hot deserts of the American Southwest. Colonies are often founded by groups of cooperating queens.

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Did You Know?

Multiple unrelated queens can found a single colony together, then fight to the death until only one remains.

Lesser Grain Borer

A cylindrical dark brown beetle that bores into whole grain kernels, reducing them to powder. It is especially destructive in warm tropical grain stores.

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Did You Know?

It produces a distinctive sweet, musty odor that can taint infested grain.