Large Oak Cynipid vs Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Oak Cynipid Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant
Scientific Name Cynips quercusfolii Camponotus edmondi
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Cynipidae Formicidae
Size 2.5–4 mm 6-14 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Madagascar
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Large Oak Cynipid

A gall wasp that induces cherry-sized galls on the undersides of oak leaves. The galls turn from green to red as they mature in autumn.

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Did You Know?

The colorful galls were historically known as 'oak cherries' and were sometimes mistaken for real fruit by children.

Malagasy Edmond's Carpenter Ant

A medium-large carpenter ant with a bicolored body, typically dark head and gaster with a reddish-brown thorax. Workers are polymorphic, with major workers having disproportionately large heads.

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Did You Know?

Major workers can use their oversized heads to physically block the nest entrance, acting as living doors.