Common Green Grasshopper vs Harvester Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Green Grasshopper Harvester Ant
Scientific Name Omocestus viridulus Messor barbarus
Order Orthoptera Hymenoptera
Family Acrididae Formicidae
Size 14-24 mm 3-14 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Omnivores Seed Feeders
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe Southern Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Green Grasshopper

A small grasshopper varying from bright green to brown with a characteristic buzzing song that accelerates to a crescendo. It is one of Europe's most widespread grasshoppers.

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Did You Know?

Its song lasts about 20 seconds and ends with a distinctive rapid crescendo.

Harvester Ant

A large, polymorphic harvester ant with impressive major workers that have broad heads for seed crushing. Workers form long foraging columns to collect seeds. They are among the most conspicuous ants in Mediterranean ecosystems.

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Did You Know?

Majors can crack open seeds with their powerful mandibles that would take a human pliers to break.