Pavement Ant vs American Slave-Maker Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pavement Ant American Slave-Maker Ant
Scientific Name Tetramorium caespitum Polyergus lucidus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 2.5-4 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Seed Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America Eastern North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Pavement Ant

A common urban ant that nests under sidewalks, driveways, and building foundations. They are well known for their spectacular territorial wars fought on pavements in spring.

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Did You Know?

Rival colonies wage mass battles on sidewalks involving thousands of workers grappling in one-on-one combat.

American Slave-Maker Ant

A North American slave-making ant that conducts well-organized raids on Formica colonies. New queens infiltrate host colonies by killing the resident queen.

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Did You Know?

During raids, they release propaganda pheromones that cause defending ants to flee or fight each other instead of the raiders.