Dinosaur Ant vs Broad-faced Sweat Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dinosaur Ant | Broad-faced Sweat Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothomyrmecia macrops | Lasioglossum platycephalum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Halictidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 7-9 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania | Europe |
| Conservation | Critically Endangered | Near Threatened |
Dinosaur Ant
Considered the most primitive living ant, often called a living fossil. Discovered in 1931 and then lost for 46 years until rediscovered in 1977 in South Australia.
Did You Know?
This ant was lost to science for 46 years after its discovery — rediscovered by pure luck when an entomologist pulled over to sleep at the roadside where they happened to live.
Broad-faced Sweat Bee
A rare and distinctive European furrow bee with an unusually broad, flattened head. It nests in sandy or gravelly soils and has become scarce throughout much of its range.
Did You Know?
Its flattened head shape is thought to be an adaptation for more efficiently excavating nest tunnels in compacted sandy soil.