Hairy Panther Ant vs Mahoenui Giant Weta
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy Panther Ant | Mahoenui Giant Weta |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neoponera obscuricornis | Deinacrida mahoenui |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Anostostomatidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | Body 50-70 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Central and South America | New Zealand |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Hairy Panther Ant
A medium-sized ponerine ant with dense body pubescence and a powerful sting. Workers are solitary predators that hunt on the forest floor and low vegetation. Colonies are small, with typically fewer than 100 workers nesting in rotting logs.
Did You Know?
Workers can navigate back to their nest using visual landmarks even after being experimentally displaced several meters away.
Mahoenui Giant Weta
A critically threatened giant weta originally surviving in a single patch of introduced gorse scrub. It is brown with lighter banding and is largely arboreal.
Did You Know?
Ironically, the invasive gorse bush has protected this weta from predators by providing spiny refuge.