Spruce Budworm Parasite vs Slave-Maker Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spruce Budworm Parasite | Slave-Maker Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Meteorus trachynotus | Temnothorax americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Braconidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spruce Budworm Parasite
A small brown braconid wasp that is a key natural enemy of the spruce budworm in North American boreal forests. It suspends its cocoon on a silk thread from the host.
Did You Know?
Its cocoon dangles from a silk thread like a tiny pendulum, which may protect it from ground-dwelling predators.
Slave-Maker Ant
A tiny North American slave-making ant that raids colonies of closely related Temnothorax species. Workers have saber-like mandibles used in raids. Enslaved workers eventually perform all domestic tasks while raiders focus solely on conducting new raids.
Did You Know?
Enslaved Temnothorax workers sometimes rebel by destroying the slave-maker brood they are supposed to rear, reducing the raiding colony's future workforce.