Metallic Ectatomma vs Mountain Ash Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Metallic Ectatomma | Mountain Ash Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ectatomma ruidum | Pristiphora geniculata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 6-8 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Mountains |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Mexico, Central America, Northern South America | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Metallic Ectatomma
A medium-sized ant with a metallic sheen common in neotropical lowland habitats. It forages individually on the ground and nests in small colonies in the soil.
Did You Know?
Some workers specialize as thieves, stealing food from nestmates of other Ectatomma ruidum colonies rather than foraging.
Mountain Ash Sawfly
A small blackish sawfly with pale legs whose green larvae can completely defoliate mountain ash (rowan) trees. Larvae have dark heads and feed gregariously.
Did You Know?
Introduced to North America in the early 1900s, it quickly became the most damaging pest of ornamental mountain ash trees across the continent.