Large Larch Sawfly vs Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Larch Sawfly | Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nematus erichsonii | Temnothorax americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 8-10 mm (adult) | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Large Larch Sawfly
A gregarious defoliator of larch in European forests. Larvae feed in groups and can rapidly strip branches of needles.
Did You Know?
Defoliated larch trees produce a second flush of needles but suffer significant growth reduction.
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.