Cuban Clear-winged Moth vs Western Harvester Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuban Clear-winged Moth Western Harvester Ant
Scientific Name Carmenta bassiformis Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Sesiidae Formicidae
Size 20-30 mm wingspan 6-10 mm
Habitat Underground Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Cuba Western United States and southwestern Canada
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Cuban Clear-winged Moth

A wasp-mimicking moth found in Cuba with transparent wings. Its narrow body and buzzing flight closely resemble a small wasp.

💡

Did You Know?

Its near-perfect wasp mimicry deters birds and other visual predators.

Western Harvester Ant

A large red ant that constructs conspicuous gravel-topped mound nests in western grasslands. It clears all vegetation from a wide circle around its nest entrance.

💡

Did You Know?

Its sting is one of the most painful among North American ants and has been rated highly on the Schmidt pain index.