Pavement Ant vs Western Snakefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pavement Ant Western Snakefly
Scientific Name Tetramorium caespitum Agulla adnixa
Order Hymenoptera Raphidioptera
Family Formicidae Raphidiidae
Size 2.5-4 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Seed Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, North America Western North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

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.

💡

Did You Know?

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

Western Snakefly

A North American snakefly found in western forests and woodlands. Larvae develop under bark of conifers where they hunt bark beetle larvae.

💡

Did You Know?

Western snakeflies require a cold winter period to complete development, which is why they are absent from tropical regions.