Hairy-saddled Colletes vs Australian Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hairy-saddled Colletes Australian Army Ant
Scientific Name Colletes succinctus Leptogenys falcigera
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Colletidae Formicidae
Size 10-13 mm 4-7 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Australia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Hairy-saddled Colletes

A late-summer plasterer bee that is a specialist on heather, secreting a cellophane-like lining in its underground nest cells. It is an important heathland indicator species.

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Did You Know?

The cellophane-like substance it secretes to waterproof its nest cells is a unique biopolymer not found in any other group of animals.

Australian Army Ant

An Australian ponerine ant that exhibits army ant-like group raiding behavior despite belonging to a different subfamily. It conducts organized raids on isopod colonies.

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Did You Know?

They are specialist predators of isopods, with their sickle-shaped mandibles perfectly adapted for gripping armored woodlice.