Snapping Amblyopone vs Oak Apple Gall Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Snapping Amblyopone Oak Apple Gall Wasp
Scientific Name Stigmatomma oregonense Biorhiza pallida
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Cynipidae
Size 3-5 mm 3.5–6 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Predators Gall Makers
Regions Western North America Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Snapping Amblyopone

A pale, blind subterranean ant of western North American forests that hunts centipedes and other soil arthropods. Like other dracula ants, it feeds on the hemolymph of its larvae.

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Did You Know?

They are specialist predators of centipedes, which they paralyze with their sting before feeding them to larvae.

Oak Apple Gall Wasp

A gall wasp that creates large spongy apple-like galls on oak twigs. It has an alternating sexual and asexual generation cycle.

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Did You Know?

The asexual generation develops in root galls underground, while the sexual generation produces the conspicuous twig galls.