Nigerian Driver Ant vs New Zealand Sandfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Nigerian Driver Ant | New Zealand Sandfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dorylus nigricans | Austrosimulium ungulatum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Dorylidae | Simuliidae |
| Size | Workers 3-14 mm; queen up to 52 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | West Africa, Central Africa | New Zealand, especially South Island |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Their queens are the largest known ants in the world and can lay up to 4 million eggs per month.
New Zealand Sandfly
A small black fly endemic to New Zealand that inflicts painful bites, particularly notorious in the South Island's West Coast and Fiordland regions. Despite being called sandflies locally, they are actually black flies in the family Simuliidae. They breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams.
Did You Know?
Maori legend says the sandfly was created by the goddess Hine-nui-te-po to prevent humans from lingering too long in the beautiful Fiordlands.