Hawaiian Big-headed Ant vs Southeastern Blueberry Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawaiian Big-headed Ant Southeastern Blueberry Bee
Scientific Name Pheidole megacephala Habropoda laboriosa
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 2-4 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Woodlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Seed Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Hawaii, Pacific Islands Southeastern United States from Virginia to Florida and west to Mississippi
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Hawaiian Big-headed Ant

An invasive ant now widespread in Hawaii with a disproportionately large head in the soldier caste. It displaces native insects throughout the islands.

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Did You Know?

It is listed among the world's 100 worst invasive species by the IUCN.

Southeastern Blueberry Bee

A fuzzy native bee that is the most efficient pollinator of blueberry flowers in North America. It uses buzz pollination to shake pollen loose from blueberry blossoms.

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Did You Know?

A single female can pollinate enough blueberry flowers to produce over a gallon of blueberries in her lifetime.