Parnopes Cuckoo Wasp vs Golden Carpenter Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Parnopes Cuckoo Wasp | Golden Carpenter Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Parnopes grandior | Camponotus sericeiventris |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysididae | Formicidae |
| Size | 8-13 mm | 8-18 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Forests |
| Diet | Parasites | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, Western Asia | Central and South America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Parnopes Cuckoo Wasp
A large and robust cuckoo wasp with a metallic green thorax and brilliant red abdomen. It exclusively parasitizes beewolf wasps in sandy habitats.
Did You Know?
It is entirely dependent on beewolf wasps for reproduction, so its populations decline wherever beewolves disappear.
Golden Carpenter Ant
A striking large ant with dense golden or silvery pubescence covering its gaster, giving it a metallic sheen. Workers are among the largest ants in the Neotropics. They nest in both live and dead trees in tropical forests.
Did You Know?
The dense pubescence on their body is thought to serve a thermoregulatory function similar to the Saharan silver ant.