Hairy Wood Ant vs Narrow-headed Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy Wood Ant | Narrow-headed Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Formica lugubris | Formica exsecta |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 4-8 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Hairy Wood Ant
A large mound-building ant of upland coniferous forests with noticeably hairy body surfaces. It forms polydomous colonies with multiple interconnected nests.
Did You Know?
A supercolony in the Swiss Jura mountains contained over 1,200 interconnected nests spanning 70 hectares.
Narrow-headed Ant
A bicolored red and black wood ant with a distinctly notched head. It builds low thatched mounds in open heathland and is declining across much of its European range.
Did You Know?
In the UK it is one of the rarest ant species and is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.