Malagasy Rover Ant vs Cricket Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malagasy Rover Ant Cricket Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Tetramorium kelleri Caenocholax fenyesi
Order Hymenoptera Strepsiptera
Family Formicidae Myrmecolacidae
Size 2-4 mm 1.5-3.0 mm (males)
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Seed Feeders Parasites
Regions Madagascar North America, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Malagasy Rover Ant

A small, dark brown ant with rugose sculpture on the head and thorax. It is part of a massive endemic radiation of Tetramorium in Madagascar.

💡

Did You Know?

Madagascar harbors 113 endemic Tetramorium species, one of the most spectacular ant radiations on any island.

Cricket Strepsipteran

An unusual strepsipteran whose males parasitize ants while females parasitize crickets. This dual-host system is unique among parasites.

💡

Did You Know?

Males and females of this species parasitize completely different insect orders, a phenomenon unique to the family Myrmecolacidae.