Coxcomb Prominent Moth vs Slave-Making Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coxcomb Prominent Moth Slave-Making Ant
Scientific Name Ptilodon capucina Formica sanguinea
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Notodontidae Formicidae
Size 38-46 mm wingspan 5-9 mm
Habitat Underground Heathland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, Western Asia, Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Coxcomb Prominent Moth

A variably colored prominent moth ranging from pale brown to deep chestnut. A raised crest of scales on the forewing trailing edge forms the distinctive coxcomb.

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Did You Know?

Its color varies so much that dark and pale forms look like completely different species.

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.

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Did You Know?

Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.