Large Larch Sawfly vs Spine-waisted Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Larch Sawfly Spine-waisted Ant
Scientific Name Nematus erichsonii Aphaenogaster tennesseensis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Formicidae
Size 8-10 mm (adult) 4-5 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Seed Feeders
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.

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Did You Know?

Defoliated larch trees produce a second flush of needles but suffer significant growth reduction.

Spine-waisted Ant

A slender reddish-brown ant common in eastern North American deciduous forests. It is an important seed disperser, carrying seeds with nutritious elaiosomes back to its nest.

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Did You Know?

They are responsible for dispersing seeds of many spring wildflowers including trilliums, violets, and bloodroot.