Guedin's Hawk Moth vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Guedin's Hawk Moth | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Macroglossum gyrans | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 35-45 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Guedin's Hawk Moth
A small day-flying hawk moth with olive-brown forewings and orange-yellow hindwings. It hovers at flowers like a hummingbird and is widespread across tropical Asia.
Did You Know?
Macroglossum gyrans can beat its wings over 70 times per second while hovering, producing the characteristic humming sound that gives its genus its name.
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.