Doorkeeper Ant vs Western Cicada Killer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Doorkeeper Ant | Western Cicada Killer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colobopsis truncata | Sphecius grandis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 3-6 mm | 30-55 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Predators |
| Regions | Southern and Central Europe | Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast |
| 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.
Western Cicada Killer
A massive solitary wasp of the American West that hunts cicadas to provision its underground burrows. It is slightly larger and paler than its eastern relative.
Did You Know?
Despite its intimidating size, it is generally docile toward humans and males cannot sting at all.