Underground Army Ant vs Slave-Making Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Underground Army Ant | Slave-Making Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Labidus coecus | Formica sanguinea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 2-7 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern United States, Central America, South America | Europe, Western Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Underground Army Ant
A mostly subterranean army ant that occasionally surfaces in massive raiding columns across the Americas. Workers are pale yellow, reflecting their underground lifestyle.
Did You Know?
They are the most frequently encountered army ants in the Americas but are rarely seen because of their subterranean habits.
Slave-Making Ant
A facultative slave-making ant that raids colonies of other Formica species to steal pupae. The stolen brood hatches and works for the slave-maker colony. Workers are reddish with darker heads and can also establish independent colonies.
Did You Know?
Unlike obligate slave-makers, this species can survive without slaves, but raided colonies grow much faster.