Pavement Ant vs Encyrtus Scale Parasite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pavement Ant Encyrtus Scale Parasite
Scientific Name Tetramorium caespitum Encyrtus infelix
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Encyrtidae
Size 2.5-4 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Woodlands Gardens
Diet Seed Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe, North America Mediterranean, North America, Australia
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.

Encyrtus Scale Parasite

A parasitoid wasp that attacks soft scale insects on citrus and ornamental trees. It was among the earliest parasitoids used in classical biological control programs.

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Did You Know?

Its introduction to California in the late 1800s was one of the pioneering successes of classical biological control.