Dark Rover Ant vs Eastern Yellowjacket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Rover Ant Eastern Yellowjacket
Scientific Name Brachymyrmex patagonicus Vespula maculifrons
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Vespidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Carrion Feeders
Regions South America, Southern United States Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states
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.

Eastern Yellowjacket

A common ground-nesting yellowjacket with bold black and yellow banding on its abdomen. It builds large paper nests underground that can contain thousands of workers.

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Did You Know?

Its underground nests can grow to the size of a basketball and contain over 4,000 workers by late summer.