Velvet Tree Ant vs Sri Lankan Relict Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Velvet Tree Ant Sri Lankan Relict Ant
Scientific Name Liometopum occidentale Aneuretus simoni
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Aneuretidae
Size 3-6 mm 3-4 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Sri Lanka
Conservation Least Concern Critically Endangered

Velvet Tree Ant

A large ant that nests in oak trees and produces a distinctive trail pheromone odor.

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Did You Know?

Columns of these ants march in conspicuous trails up and down tree trunks.

Sri Lankan Relict Ant

The sole surviving member of its entire subfamily, known only from a few localities in Sri Lanka's rainforests. A true living fossil representing an ancient ant lineage.

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Did You Know?

The only living species in its entire subfamily, all other members went extinct millions of years ago.