Spine-waisted Ant vs Emerald Cockroach Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spine-waisted Ant | Emerald Cockroach Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphaenogaster tennesseensis | Ampulex compressa |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Ampulicidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm | 22 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Africa, Asia, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spine-waisted Ant
A slender reddish-brown ant common in eastern North American deciduous forests. It is an important seed disperser, carrying seeds with nutritious elaiosomes back to its nest.
Did You Know?
They are responsible for dispersing seeds of many spring wildflowers including trilliums, violets, and bloodroot.
Emerald Cockroach Wasp
A brilliant emerald-green wasp that zombifies cockroaches. It delivers precise stings to the cockroachs brain, removing its escape reflex. Then leads it by the antenna like a dog on a leash.
Did You Know?
The emerald cockroach wasp performs neurosurgery — it stings a cockroach twice in precise brain locations to disable its escape reflex, then walks it to a burrow like a zombie.