Hornet Robber Fly vs Western Harvester Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hornet Robber Fly | Western Harvester Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Asilus crabroniformis | Pogonomyrmex occidentalis |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 18-28 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa | Western United States and southwestern Canada |
| Conservation | Near Threatened (declining in northern Europe) | Least Concern |
Hornet Robber Fly
Europe's largest robber fly, a hornet mimic with a yellow-and-brown body that hunts dung beetles on grazed pastures. Females lay eggs in animal dung where larvae develop as predators.
Did You Know?
It specifically hunts dung beetles, and its larvae develop as predators inside cow pats and horse droppings.
Western Harvester Ant
A large red ant that constructs conspicuous gravel-topped mound nests in western grasslands. It clears all vegetation from a wide circle around its nest entrance.
Did You Know?
Its sting is one of the most painful among North American ants and has been rated highly on the Schmidt pain index.