Sparkling Jewelwing vs Discothyrea Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sparkling Jewelwing Discothyrea Ant
Scientific Name Calopteryx xanthostoma Discothyrea testacea
Order Odonata Hymenoptera
Family Calopterygidae Formicidae
Size 45-50 mm 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Underground
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Africa Southern Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sparkling Jewelwing

A southwestern European demoiselle closely related to the Banded Demoiselle. Males have broad dark wing bands and a distinctive yellow underside to the mouth.

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Did You Know?

It can be distinguished from the Banded Demoiselle by the yellow underside of its lower lip.

Discothyrea Ant

An extremely small and rarely seen ant with only a single-segmented antennal club, unique among ants. It nests deep in soil and rotting wood across southern Europe.

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Did You Know?

Its single-segment antennal club is found in no other ant genus, making it instantly recognizable to myrmecologists.