Green Shield Mantis vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Green Shield Mantis | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlidonoptera lestoni | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Mantodea | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mantidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 30-45 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Green Shield Mantis
A flat-bodied mantis from West Africa with a wide, shield-shaped pronotum. Its flattened body helps it press tightly against tree bark for camouflage.
Did You Know?
Its shield-like pronotum is proportionally one of the widest of any mantis species.
Slave-Making Ant
A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.
Did You Know?
Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.