Common Carder Bee vs Swollen-thorn Acacia Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Carder Bee | Swollen-thorn Acacia Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus pascuorum | Pseudomyrmex peperi |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 9-18 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe | Mexico, Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Carder Bee
A fluffy ginger-brown bumblebee that builds nests on the ground surface using moss and grass. It has one of the longest flight seasons of any European bumblebee.
Did You Know?
Workers 'card' moss fibres over the nest like wool, which gives the species its common name.
Swollen-thorn Acacia Ant
An obligate acacia-ant mutualist that nests exclusively within the hollow thorns of Vachellia trees. Workers patrol the tree constantly, stinging any animal that contacts it.
Did You Know?
Acacia trees with these ant colonies grow significantly faster than uncolonized trees due to the ant's protection services.