Grey Bush-Cricket vs Maricopa Harvester Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Grey Bush-Cricket | Maricopa Harvester Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycleis albopunctata | Pogonomyrmex maricopa |
| Order | Orthoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tettigoniidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 16-22 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Heathland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Western and Southern Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Grey Bush-Cricket
A cryptic grey-brown bush-cricket of dry coastal grasslands and chalky hillsides in Europe. It sings a brief, staccato burst of clicks during warm afternoons.
Did You Know?
Its range in Britain is entirely coastal, restricted to warm south-facing cliff tops and undercliff grasslands.
Maricopa Harvester Ant
Produces the most toxic insect venom known — with an LD50 of 0.12 mg/kg in mice. Just 12 stings can deliver a lethal dose to a 2 kg mammal.
Did You Know?
The venom of this ant is 20 times more potent than honey bee venom — it is the most toxic insect venom ever measured, yet the ant is only stung-aggressive when defending its nest.