Giant Ponerine Ant vs Shadowdamsel

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Ponerine Ant Shadowdamsel
Scientific Name Pachycondyla crassinoda Palaemnema paulicoba
Order Hymenoptera Odonata
Family Formicidae Platystictidae
Size 14-20 mm 35-42 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Predators
Regions West Africa, Central Africa Central America
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Giant Ponerine Ant

A very large black predatory ant of African tropical forests with powerful mandibles and a painful sting. Solitary foragers hunt large prey items on the forest floor.

💡

Did You Know?

Workers hunt alone and can subdue prey many times their own size using their potent sting.

Shadowdamsel

A delicate damselfly that lives in deep shade along tropical forest streams.

💡

Did You Know?

It is restricted to pristine forested waterways and disappears when canopy is removed.