Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth vs Desert Navigator Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Desert Navigator Ant
Scientific Name Hemaris tityus Cataglyphis fortis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Sphingidae Formicidae
Size 38-45 mm wingspan 6-10 mm
Habitat Wetlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Africa
Conservation Least Concern (declining in western Europe) Least Concern

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

A bumblebee mimic with largely transparent wings and a furry olive-and-brown body. It flies by day, hovering at flowers in a manner indistinguishable from a real bee.

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Did You Know?

The wing scales fall off during its first flight, leaving the characteristic clear patches.

Desert Navigator Ant

A heat-tolerant Saharan ant famous for its extraordinary navigation abilities. It uses a built-in pedometer and polarized light compass to find its way home.

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Did You Know?

It counts its own steps to measure distance and can navigate home in a straight line from hundreds of meters away.