Hornet Strepsipteran vs Australian Stink Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Strepsipteran Australian Stink Ant
Scientific Name Xenos myrapetrus Iridomyrmex bicknelli
Order Strepsiptera Hymenoptera
Family Xenidae Formicidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm (males) 3-5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Sap Feeders
Regions Africa Australia, Oceania
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Hornet Strepsipteran

A large strepsipteran parasite of hornets and social wasps in tropical Africa. Males have distinctive fan-shaped hindwings.

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Did You Know?

Male strepsipterans have large eyes with only about 50 facets each, giving them the coarsest visual resolution of any insect.

Australian Stink Ant

A small, fast-moving ant that releases a strong, unpleasant odour when crushed, giving it its common name. It forms large colonies and is one of the most common ants in Australian suburban environments.

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Did You Know?

Iridomyrmex ants dominate Australian ant communities and are among the most ecologically successful ants in the Southern Hemisphere.