Tawny Crazy Ant vs American Rubyspot
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tawny Crazy Ant | American Rubyspot |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nylanderia fulva | Hetaerina americana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Formicidae | Calopterygidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 40-50 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | South America, Southern United States | North America, Central America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Tawny Crazy Ant
A small reddish-brown ant that forms enormous supercolonies and is displacing fire ants in the southern United States. They are attracted to electrical equipment and often cause short circuits.
Did You Know?
They coat themselves in formic acid as an antidote after being stung by fire ants, a unique detoxification behavior.
American Rubyspot
A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic red-bronze body gleams in sunlight along stream banks.
Did You Know?
Males aggressively defend stream territories, clashing with rivals by displaying their ruby wing patches.