South American Velvet Ant vs Asian Marauder Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Velvet Ant Asian Marauder Army Ant
Scientific Name Traumatomutilla indica Dorylus laevigatus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Mutillidae Formicidae
Size 15-22 mm 2-10 mm
Habitat Grasslands Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions South America Southeast Asia, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

South American Velvet Ant

A large tropical velvet ant with striking black and orange patterns. Despite its species name, it is native to South America and not India.

💡

Did You Know?

Its species name 'indica' was assigned in error and does not reflect its true South American distribution.

Asian Marauder Army Ant

A subterranean army ant of Southeast Asian forests that raids termite nests through underground tunnels. It is one of the few Dorylus species found in Asia.

💡

Did You Know?

It represents an ancient Asian lineage of driver ants, showing that Dorylus once had a much wider range than Africa.