Flower Wasp vs Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flower Wasp | Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cerceris rybyensis | Temnothorax americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Crabronidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 8-14 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flower Wasp
A solitary wasp that hunts small mining bees to provision its nest. Nests in sandy soil, often in dense aggregations. Distinguished from other wasps by its hunting specialization.
Did You Know?
Specializes in hunting mining bees (Andrena), catching them on flowers and carrying them back to its burrow.
Slave-Maker Ant
A tiny North American slave-making ant that raids colonies of closely related Temnothorax species. Workers have saber-like mandibles used in raids. Enslaved workers eventually perform all domestic tasks while raiders focus solely on conducting new raids.
Did You Know?
Enslaved Temnothorax workers sometimes rebel by destroying the slave-maker brood they are supposed to rear, reducing the raiding colony's future workforce.