Honey Pot Ant vs Richmond Birdwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Honey Pot Ant | Richmond Birdwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecocystus mexicanus | Ornithoptera richmondia |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 5-15 mm (repletes up to 25 mm swollen) | 11-13 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Honey Pot Ant
Certain workers called repletes serve as living food storage vessels. They hang from the ceiling, gorged with honey and nectar until their abdomens swell to the size of grapes.
Did You Know?
Replete workers become living pantries — they hang motionless from the ceiling, swollen to the size of grapes, and regurgitate stored honey on demand to feed the colony.
Richmond Birdwing
A large subtropical birdwing butterfly with green and black males and brown females. It is threatened by habitat loss and a toxic introduced vine.
Did You Know?
Larvae that accidentally feed on the invasive Dutchman's pipe vine are poisoned and die.