Mason Wasp vs Giant Ponerine Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mason Wasp Giant Ponerine Ant
Scientific Name Ancistrocerus nigricornis Pachycondyla crassinoda
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Formicidae
Size 10-14 mm 14-20 mm
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, Western Asia West Africa, Central Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mason Wasp

A small black and yellow solitary wasp that nests in pre-existing holes and hollow stems. It provisions each cell with paralyzed moth caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It readily uses artificial bee hotels, making it one of the easiest solitary wasps to attract to gardens.

Giant Ponerine Ant

A very large black predatory ant of African tropical forests with powerful mandibles and a painful sting. Solitary foragers hunt large prey items on the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

Workers hunt alone and can subdue prey many times their own size using their potent sting.