Cone Ant vs Red-winged Spider Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cone Ant | Red-winged Spider Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dorymyrmex insanus | Tachypompilus ferrugineus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Pompilidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 18-28 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Southern United States, Mexico | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cone Ant
A fast-moving reddish-brown ant that builds distinctive cone-shaped crater nests in sandy soil. It is a common competitor with fire ants in open habitats of the southern United States.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few native ant species that can successfully compete with invasive fire ants for territory.
Red-winged Spider Wasp
A large rusty-red spider wasp that hunts wolf spiders and other large ground spiders. It drags paralyzed prey across the ground to its burrow.
Did You Know?
Females can drag spiders many times their own weight across rough terrain to reach their nesting burrows.