Nigerian Driver Ant vs Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nigerian Driver Ant Lunar Ichneumon Wasp
Scientific Name Dorylus nigricans Megarhyssa lunator
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Dorylidae Ichneumonidae
Size Workers 3-14 mm; queen up to 52 mm 30-50 mm body, ovipositor up to 130 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Forests
Diet Carrion Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions West Africa, Central Africa Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nigerian Driver Ant

A large driver ant species with massive soldier caste bearing sickle-shaped mandibles. Raiding columns can stretch over 100 meters.

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Did You Know?

Their queens are the largest known ants in the world and can lay up to 4 million eggs per month.

Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

A striking ichneumon with a yellow and brown banded body. It parasitizes pigeon tremex horntail larvae inside hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Its ovipositor is the longest relative to body size of any insect in North America.