White-footed Ant vs Vine Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute White-footed Ant Vine Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Technomyrmex difficilis Hippotion velox
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Formicidae Sphingidae
Size 2.5-3 mm 55-70 mm
Habitat Heathland Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia, Southeastern United States, Caribbean Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

White-footed Ant

A small black ant with pale tarsi that forms enormous colonies numbering in the millions. It is a serious pest in Florida and other subtropical regions.

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Did You Know?

Up to half of all workers in a colony are fertile, giving them an extraordinary reproductive rate compared to other ant species.

Vine Hawk Moth

A sleek olive-brown hawk moth with a distinctive pale dorsal stripe. It is widespread across Africa and Asia, and is one of the most commonly encountered sphingids in Australia.

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Did You Know?

Hippotion velox is one of the most common hawk moths encountered in Australian suburban gardens, where it is attracted to outdoor lights.