Neotropical Paper Wasp vs Severini's Rover Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Paper Wasp Severini's Rover Ant
Scientific Name Polistes canadensis Tetramorium severini
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Formicidae
Size 25-30 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Central America, northern South America, Caribbean Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Neotropical Paper Wasp

A large reddish-brown paper wasp with dark wings that builds open-comb nests under eaves and branches. It is one of the most common social wasps in the Neotropics.

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Did You Know?

This was the first wasp species shown to recognize individual nestmates by their unique facial markings.

Severini's Rover Ant

A small leaf-litter ant with a finely striate head and propodeal spines of moderate length. It belongs to the T. severini species group endemic to Madagascar.

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Did You Know?

Its species group contains numerous cryptic species that can only be reliably distinguished using DNA barcoding methods.