Steelblue Ichneumon vs Legionary Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Steelblue Ichneumon | Legionary Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lissopimpla excelsa | Neivamyrmex nigrescens |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 2-5 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | Australia, New Zealand | Southwestern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Steelblue Ichneumon
A metallic blue-black ichneumon wasp native to Australia. It is an important parasitoid of pest caterpillars including the introduced cabbage moth.
Did You Know?
It was deliberately introduced to New Zealand to help control pest moth populations in agriculture.
Legionary Ant
The most common army ant species in the United States, conducting nocturnal column raids on other ant nests. Workers are small and reddish-brown with reduced eyes.
Did You Know?
They are rarely seen because they raid almost exclusively at night and spend most of their time underground.