Red Harvester Ant vs European Wheat Stem Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red Harvester Ant European Wheat Stem Sawfly
Scientific Name Pogonomyrmex barbatus Cephus pygmeus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Cephidae
Size 6-10 mm 8-10 mm (adult)
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions North America Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Red Harvester Ant

A large red ant that builds conspicuous mound nests cleared of vegetation in arid terrain. Workers collect seeds and store them in underground granaries.

💡

Did You Know?

Its sting is rated among the most painful of any insect, and its venom is the most toxic of any known insect venom by weight.

European Wheat Stem Sawfly

A stem-boring sawfly pest of wheat and other cereals throughout Europe and western Asia. It has also established in parts of North America.

💡

Did You Know?

Solid-stemmed wheat varieties were bred specifically to resist stem sawfly larval boring.