Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura) vs Lesser Bullet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura) | Lesser Bullet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila heteroneura | Neoponera villosa |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) | Southern United States, Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura)
A remarkable Hawaiian picture-wing fly famous for its hammer-shaped head, found only on Hawaii Island. Males use their broad, flattened heads in head-butting contests for mating rights. It breeds in decaying Clermontia bark.
Did You Know?
Males have uniquely hammer-shaped heads that they use as battering rams, headbutting rival males in combat over territory and mates.
Lesser Bullet Ant
A large black ponerine ant found from Texas through South America with a powerful sting. It nests in tree hollows and dead wood, foraging arboreally at night.
Did You Know?
It is sometimes called the 'false bullet ant' because its sting, while very painful, is less severe than that of Paraponera.