Giant Orange Ichneumon vs Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Orange Ichneumon | Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Netelia producta | Temnothorax americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Orange Ichneumon
A large, uniformly orange ichneumon wasp commonly attracted to lights. It parasitizes caterpillars of owlet moths and geometrid moths.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most frequently encountered ichneumon wasps at porch lights across North America during summer.
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.