Tropical Fire Ant vs Horned Mason Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tropical Fire Ant Horned Mason Bee
Scientific Name Solenopsis geminata Osmia cornuta
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Megachilidae
Size 2-6 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Grasslands Orchards
Diet Seed Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Pantropical Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tropical Fire Ant

A pantropical fire ant with large-headed major workers specialized for seed milling. It is one of the oldest known invasive ant species, spread globally through colonial trade routes.

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Did You Know?

It was likely transported around the world in soil ballast of Spanish galleons during the 16th century.

Horned Mason Bee

A robust spring-flying bee with distinctive horn-like projections on the female's face. It is widely used as a managed pollinator in European fruit orchards.

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Did You Know?

It is three times more efficient at pollinating almond flowers than the honeybee.