Tawny Crazy Ant vs Woodland Acerentomid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tawny Crazy Ant Woodland Acerentomid
Scientific Name Nylanderia fulva Acerentomon maius
Order Hymenoptera Protura
Family Formicidae Acerentomidae
Size 2-3 mm 1.2-2.0 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions South America, Southern United States Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

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.

Woodland Acerentomid

A relatively large proturan found in deciduous forest soils of central Europe. It is among the better-studied acerentomid species.

💡

Did You Know?

Research suggests this species feeds specifically on mycorrhizal fungi, making it dependent on healthy forest root systems.