South American Fire Ant vs Japanese Burrowing Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Fire Ant Japanese Burrowing Mayfly
Scientific Name Solenopsis saevissima Ephemera japonica
Order Hymenoptera Ephemeroptera
Family Formicidae Ephemeridae
Size 2-6 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Seed Feeders Omnivores
Regions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay Japan, East Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Japanese Burrowing Mayfly

A large burrowing mayfly native to Japanese rivers and streams. It emerges in large numbers during early summer evenings.

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Did You Know?

It is culturally significant in Japan, where mayfly emergence has been celebrated in poetry for centuries.