Sonoran Honeypot Ant vs Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sonoran Honeypot Ant | Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecocystus navajo | Xyela alpigena |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Xyelidae |
| Size | 5-12 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Europe, particularly Alpine regions |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Sonoran Honeypot Ant
A honeypot ant species native to the high deserts of the Colorado Plateau. Repletes store amber-colored honeydew in their distended abdomens.
Did You Know?
Rival colonies wage organized wars over territory, and victors raid the losers' replete stores.
Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly
A minute sawfly that is part of the oldest surviving lineage of Hymenoptera. Adults have the distinctive elongated third antennal segment characteristic of xyelids.
Did You Know?
This high-altitude species represents a living lineage that has survived essentially unchanged for over 200 million years.