Western Cedar Borer vs Neotropical Hunting Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Western Cedar Borer Neotropical Hunting Ant
Scientific Name Trachykele blondeli Neoponera apicalis
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Buprestidae Formicidae
Size 15-25 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions Western North America Central and South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Western Cedar Borer

A large, dark metallic jewel beetle that develops in western red cedar. Larvae create distinctive oval exit holes in timber.

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Did You Know?

Their development can take over a decade in dry seasoned wood, making them among the slowest-developing beetles.

Neotropical Hunting Ant

A large black ponerine ant with reddish-brown appendages and a powerful sting. Workers are skilled solitary hunters that use visual landmarks for navigation. Colonies nest in rotting logs, soil, and at tree bases.

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Did You Know?

Individual workers memorize specific routes through the forest using visual landmarks, returning to the same hunting grounds repeatedly.