Desert Digger Bee vs Lower Attine Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Desert Digger Bee | Lower Attine Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centris pallida | Cyphomyrmex rimosus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Gardens |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | Southern United States, Central and South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Desert Digger Bee
A large, fuzzy solitary bee of the Sonoran Desert that nests in burrows in hard-packed soil. Males patrol nesting areas and dig up emerging females to mate.
Did You Know?
Males locate females still underground by detecting their scent through the soil surface.
Lower Attine Ant
A tiny, cryptic fungus-growing ant with a rugose and heavily sculptured dark brown body. Workers cultivate yeast rather than the mycelial fungus of more derived attines. They collect insect frass and dead plant material for their yeast gardens.
Did You Know?
Unlike their famous leafcutter relatives, they grow a yeast-like fungus rather than the mushroom-like fungi cultivated by Atta and Acromyrmex.