Slave-Making Ant vs Rough Harvester Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Slave-Making Ant Rough Harvester Ant
Scientific Name Formica sanguinea Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 5-9 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Heathland Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Seed Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia, Japan North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Slave-Making Ant

A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.

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Did You Know?

Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.

Rough Harvester Ant

A dark-colored harvester ant with a rough, sculptured body found in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts. Colonies maintain long-lived foraging trails.

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Did You Know?

Neighboring colonies fight ritual battles at their shared borders each morning during the breeding season.