Slave-Making Ant vs Turtle Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Slave-Making Ant Turtle Ant
Scientific Name Formica sanguinea Cephalotes atratus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 5-9 mm 6-14 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia, Japan Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

Turtle Ant

A large, flat-bodied arboreal ant with a broad disc-shaped head used to block nest entrances in tree holes. Workers can glide directionally when falling from the canopy.

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Did You Know?

They are one of the few ant species capable of directed aerial gliding, steering back to their tree trunk mid-fall.