Fighting Soldier Thrips vs Saharan Antlion
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fighting Soldier Thrips | Saharan Antlion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oncothrips tepperi | Neuroleon nemausiensis |
| Order | Thysanoptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Phlaeothripidae | Myrmeleontidae |
| Size | 1.5-3 mm | 40-55 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Omnivores |
| Regions | Australia | Mediterranean Basin, North Africa |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Fighting Soldier Thrips
A eusocial Australian thrips that forms colonies inside galls on Acacia trees with distinct reproductive and soldier castes. Soldiers patrol the gall and attack intruding insects.
Did You Know?
They are one of only about a dozen thrips species worldwide known to have evolved true eusociality with a soldier caste.
Saharan Antlion
A slender antlion found across the Mediterranean and North Africa. Adults fly at dusk and are attracted to lights in arid regions.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most commonly encountered antlions at light traps around the Mediterranean.