Doorkeeper Ant vs African Sand Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Doorkeeper Ant | African Sand Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colobopsis truncata | Bembix capensis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 3-6 mm | 15-22 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southern and Central Europe | Southern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Doorkeeper Ant
A European carpenter ant in which soldiers have uniquely flattened, plug-shaped heads used to block nest entrances in plant stems. Workers are bicolored yellow and dark brown. They nest in hollow twigs and galls of various trees.
Did You Know?
Soldier ants literally use their flattened heads as living doors, opening the nest entrance only when nestmates present the correct chemical password.
African Sand Wasp
A fast-flying sand wasp with black and yellow banding that nests in sandy ground. Females provision nests with captured flies.
Did You Know?
Females progressively feed their developing larvae with fresh flies over several days, unlike most wasps that mass-provision.