Imbrasia Silk Moth vs Slender Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Imbrasia Silk Moth Slender Ant
Scientific Name Imbrasia epimethea Myrmica scabrinodis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Saturniidae Formicidae
Size 90-130 mm 3.5-5 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Sap Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions West and Central Africa Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Imbrasia Silk Moth

A large West African saturniid with reddish-brown wings bearing dark eyespots. Its caterpillars are among the most widely consumed edible insects in the Congo Basin.

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Did You Know?

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, caterpillars of Imbrasia epimethea are a staple food and are sold in markets throughout the country.

Slender Ant

A medium-sized red-brown ant with coarsely sculptured cuticle, common in grasslands across Europe. Colonies are typically monogynous with a single queen. Workers forage close to the nest in tussock grass.

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Did You Know?

This species is an important host for the Dusky Large Blue butterfly in wetland habitats across Europe.