Mole Cricket with Four Dots vs Cone Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mole Cricket with Four Dots | Cone Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus | Dorymyrmex insanus |
| Order | Orthoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Gryllidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 19-25 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Southeastern United States, South America, Caribbean | Southern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mole Cricket with Four Dots
A short-winged mole cricket-like species from South America that has invaded the southeastern United States. Despite its small size it can damage turf grasses.
Did You Know?
Unlike most mole crickets, its shortened wings mean it is flightless and can only spread by walking through the soil.
Cone Ant
A fast-moving reddish-brown ant that builds distinctive cone-shaped crater nests in sandy soil. It is a common competitor with fire ants in open habitats of the southern United States.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few native ant species that can successfully compete with invasive fire ants for territory.