Coffee Berry Borer vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Coffee Berry Borer | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hypothenemus hampei | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Curculionidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central Africa (native), Pantropical (invasive) | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Coffee Berry Borer
A tiny, dark brown beetle that bores into coffee berries and is the most damaging pest of coffee worldwide. Females tunnel into the berry and lay eggs inside.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few animals that can detoxify caffeine, thanks to gut bacteria that break down the alkaloid.
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.
Did You Know?
Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.