Silky Hairstreak vs Dinosaur Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silky Hairstreak | Dinosaur Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pseudalmenus chlorinda | Nothomyrmecia macrops |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 2.5-3.5 cm wingspan | 10-15 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Australia | Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Silky Hairstreak
A small dark butterfly with metallic blue-green sheen and orange-spotted hindwing tails. Its larvae have a mutualistic relationship with ants.
Did You Know?
Ants guard the caterpillars in exchange for sugary secretions from special glands on the larvae.
Dinosaur Ant
Considered the most primitive living ant, often called a living fossil. Discovered in 1931 and then lost for 46 years until rediscovered in 1977 in South Australia.
Did You Know?
This ant was lost to science for 46 years after its discovery — rediscovered by pure luck when an entomologist pulled over to sleep at the roadside where they happened to live.