Spiny Ant vs Turtle Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spiny Ant | Turtle Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyrhachis dives | Cephalotes atratus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 6-14 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia, southern China, India | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Spiny Ant
A distinctive Asian ant with paired spines on the petiole and propodeum. Workers are metallic dark brown and build nests from silk produced by larvae, similar to weaver ants. Colonies are arboreal and highly territorial.
Did You Know?
They are commonly eaten as a protein-rich food in parts of southern China, where they are harvested from silk nests in trees.
Turtle Ant
A large, flat-bodied arboreal ant with a broad disc-shaped head used to block nest entrances in tree holes. Workers can glide directionally when falling from the canopy.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few ant species capable of directed aerial gliding, steering back to their tree trunk mid-fall.