Exploding Ant vs Cone Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Exploding Ant | Cone Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colobopsis explodens | Dorymyrmex insanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Southern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Exploding Ant
Minor workers can deliberately rupture their own bodies in an act of self-sacrifice, releasing a toxic sticky yellow secretion that entangles and kills attackers. Described new in 2018.
Did You Know?
When threatened, these ants literally explode — minor workers contract their abdominal muscles so violently they burst open, spraying toxic glue on attackers in a suicidal defense.
Cone Ant
A fast-moving reddish-brown ant that builds distinctive cone-shaped crater nests in sandy soil. It is a common competitor with fire ants in open habitats of the southern United States.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few native ant species that can successfully compete with invasive fire ants for territory.