Turtle Ant vs Pacific Spiketail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Turtle Ant | Pacific Spiketail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cephalotes atratus | Cordulegaster dorsalis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Formicidae | Cordulegastridae |
| Size | 6-14 mm | 65-75 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | North America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Turtle Ant
A large, flat-bodied arboreal ant with a broad disc-shaped head used to block nest entrances in tree holes. Workers can glide directionally when falling from the canopy.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few ant species capable of directed aerial gliding, steering back to their tree trunk mid-fall.
Pacific Spiketail
The only spiketail dragonfly on the Pacific coast of North America. It has a dark brown body with yellow dorsal spots and patrols shaded forest seepages.
Did You Know?
It is the only spiketail species found west of the Rocky Mountains in North America.