Smelly Carpenter Ant vs Secondary Screwworm Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Smelly Carpenter Ant Secondary Screwworm Fly
Scientific Name Dolichoderus thoracicus Cochliomyia macellaria
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Formicidae Calliphoridae
Size 3-4 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Carrion Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia North America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Smelly Carpenter Ant

A Southeast Asian dolichoderine ant that tends mealybugs inside shelters built from chewed plant material. It is a significant pest of cacao and coconut plantations.

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Did You Know?

They build elaborate carton tents over mealybug colonies on crop plants, protecting their honeydew source from rain and predators.

Secondary Screwworm Fly

A blow fly that breeds in carrion and occasionally infests wounds in livestock. It is widely used in forensic studies in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the primary screwworm, it only feeds on dead tissue rather than living flesh.