Lesser Citronella Ant vs Yellow-legged Hornet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lesser Citronella Ant Yellow-legged Hornet
Scientific Name Lasius claviger Vespa velutina
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Vespidae
Size 3-4 mm 20-30 mm
Habitat Orchards Woodlands
Diet Root Feeders Predators
Regions Eastern North America East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lesser Citronella Ant

A small yellow subterranean ant closely related to the larger citronella ant. It produces a citrus scent and lives in deep soil nests tending root aphids.

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Did You Know?

Citronella ants are obligate herders whose survival depends entirely on their symbiotic relationship with underground aphids.

Yellow-legged Hornet

An invasive Asian hornet with a dark body and yellow leg tips now spreading rapidly across Europe. It is a major predator of honeybees near hive entrances.

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Did You Know?

Since arriving in France in 2004 in a shipment of pottery, it has spread to most of Western Europe.