Red Harvester Ant vs Lythrum Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Harvester Ant | Lythrum Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pogonomyrmex barbatus | Melitta nigricans |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Melittidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
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.
Lythrum Bee
A specialist bee that collects pollen from purple loosestrife along rivers and wetland margins. It is a ground-nesting species found in damp habitats.
Did You Know?
It times its emergence precisely to the flowering of purple loosestrife in July, and in years of drought it may fail to reproduce entirely.