Discothyrea Ant vs Red-bordered Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Discothyrea Ant | Red-bordered Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discothyrea testacea | Caria ino |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 28-35 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern Europe, North Africa | South Texas through Mexico and Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Discothyrea Ant
An extremely small and rarely seen ant with only a single-segmented antennal club, unique among ants. It nests deep in soil and rotting wood across southern Europe.
Did You Know?
Its single-segment antennal club is found in no other ant genus, making it instantly recognizable to myrmecologists.
Red-bordered Metalmark
A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wing bases. It perches with wings spread flat.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely territorial, perching on sunlit leaf surfaces and darting out at any passing insect.