Polar Willow Gall Sawfly vs Hairy Wood Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Polar Willow Gall Sawfly | Hairy Wood Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Euura arcticum | Formica lugubris |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 4-8 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Forests |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Arctic Scandinavia, Svalbard | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Polar Willow Gall Sawfly
A tiny sawfly that induces galls on Arctic willow stems by injecting chemicals during egg-laying. The larva develops safely inside the swollen plant tissue. Adults are small and dark with clear wings.
Did You Know?
The gall provides the larva with both food and insulation, maintaining temperatures several degrees warmer than the outside air.
Hairy Wood Ant
A large mound-building ant of upland coniferous forests with noticeably hairy body surfaces. It forms polydomous colonies with multiple interconnected nests.
Did You Know?
A supercolony in the Swiss Jura mountains contained over 1,200 interconnected nests spanning 70 hectares.