Tawny Crazy Ant vs Japanese Honeybee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tawny Crazy Ant Japanese Honeybee
Scientific Name Nylanderia fulva Apis cerana japonica
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 2-3 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Underground
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions South America, Southern United States East Asia, Japan
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.

Japanese Honeybee

The Japanese subspecies of the Eastern honeybee, known as 'nihon-mitsubachi.' Smaller and darker than the European honeybee. Famous for its unique defensive behavior against giant hornets.

💡

Did You Know?

Japanese honeybees can form a thermal ball around a hornet scout, vibrating their flight muscles to raise the temperature to lethal levels for the hornet.