Painted Skimmer vs Prionopelta Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Painted Skimmer Prionopelta Ant
Scientific Name Libellula semifasciata Prionopelta amabilis
Order Odonata Hymenoptera
Family Libellulidae Formicidae
Size 40-47 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Painted Skimmer

An attractive dragonfly with amber-tinted wings marked by brown bands and spots. It is an early-season flier in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest dragonflies to emerge in spring across the eastern United States.

Prionopelta Ant

A tiny pale amblyoponine ant found in tropical forest soils across the Americas. Workers are essentially blind and rely entirely on chemical and tactile cues underground.

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Did You Know?

They are specialist predators of diplurans, two-pronged bristletails that share their deep-soil habitat.