Sonoran Honeypot Ant vs Tube-building Desert Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sonoran Honeypot Ant | Tube-building Desert Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecocystus navajo | Gnathamitermes perplexus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Formicidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 5-12 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, northern Mexico |
| 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.
Tube-building Desert Termite
A desert termite found in the southwestern United States that builds distinctive mud tubes and soil sheeting over grass and debris. Workers are active at the surface after rains. The species is an important decomposer in desert ecosystems.
Did You Know?
This termite is responsible for decomposing a significant proportion of the dead grass in desert grasslands, playing a role comparable to earthworms in temperate ecosystems.