Cuckoo Bumblebee vs Golden-tailed Bull Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuckoo Bumblebee Golden-tailed Bull Ant
Scientific Name Bombus vestalis Myrmecia chrysogaster
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Formicidae
Size 15-22mm 15-22 mm
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Parasites Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Australia, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cuckoo Bumblebee

A social parasite that invades buff-tailed bumblebee nests, kills the queen and enslaves the workers.

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Did You Know?

Enters the nest of its host species, fights and kills the queen, then forces the workers to raise her own offspring.

Golden-tailed Bull Ant

A strikingly coloured bull ant with a distinctive golden-yellow gaster and reddish-brown head and thorax. Like other Myrmecia species, it possesses a powerful sting and excellent eyesight.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most ants, bull ant workers hunt individually rather than cooperatively, relying on their keen vision.