Dark Rover Ant vs Buffish Mining Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Rover Ant Buffish Mining Bee
Scientific Name Brachymyrmex patagonicus Andrena nigroaenea
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Andrenidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Fruit Feeders
Regions South America, Southern United States Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark Rover Ant

A tiny dark brown ant that has rapidly spread across the southern United States as an invasive species. It is attracted to electrical equipment and frequently enters buildings.

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Did You Know?

They are so small that entire colonies can nest inside electrical junction boxes and wall outlets.

Buffish Mining Bee

A large mining bee with a dark metallic body and buff-brown thoracic fur. It is one of the main hosts of the early-flying nomada cuckoo bees.

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Did You Know?

It sometimes nests in dense aggregations of hundreds of burrows per square meter, creating a moonscape appearance on lawns.