Swarm-Founding Wasp vs Nigerian Driver Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Swarm-Founding Wasp Nigerian Driver Ant
Scientific Name Polybia paulista Dorylus nigricans
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Dorylidae
Size 10-15 mm Workers 3-14 mm; queen up to 52 mm
Habitat Woodlands Rivers & Streams
Diet Fruit Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay West Africa, Central Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Swarm-Founding Wasp

A small dark social wasp that builds enclosed paper nests containing thousands of individuals. It is known for its aggressive colony defense.

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Did You Know?

Its venom contains a peptide called Polybia-MP1 that has shown the ability to selectively destroy cancer cells in laboratory studies.

Nigerian Driver Ant

A large driver ant species with massive soldier caste bearing sickle-shaped mandibles. Raiding columns can stretch over 100 meters.

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Did You Know?

Their queens are the largest known ants in the world and can lay up to 4 million eggs per month.