Horntail Wasp vs Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Horntail Wasp | Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Urocerus gigas | Temnothorax americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Siricidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 25-40 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Horntail Wasp
A large wood wasp that injects symbiotic fungus into trees along with its eggs.
Did You Know?
The injected fungus softens the wood to make it digestible for the larvae.
Slave-Maker Ant
A tiny North American slave-making ant that raids colonies of closely related Temnothorax species. Workers have saber-like mandibles used in raids. Enslaved workers eventually perform all domestic tasks while raiders focus solely on conducting new raids.
Did You Know?
Enslaved Temnothorax workers sometimes rebel by destroying the slave-maker brood they are supposed to rear, reducing the raiding colony's future workforce.