South American Fire Ant vs Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Fire Ant Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee
Scientific Name Solenopsis saevissima Xylocopa frontalis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 2-6 mm 25-35 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Woodlands
Diet Seed Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

South American Fire Ant

An aggressive reddish-brown fire ant native to South America with a painful venomous sting. Colonies form conspicuous mound nests in open areas.

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Did You Know?

During floods, entire colonies link together into living rafts that float for weeks until finding dry ground.

Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee

One of the largest bees in the Americas with a robust black body and yellowish thoracic hair. Females bore nesting tunnels into dead wood and timber.

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Did You Know?

It is the most effective natural pollinator of passion fruit, and crop yields decline significantly where it disappears.