Wool Carder Bee vs Longhorn Crazy Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wool Carder Bee Longhorn Crazy Ant
Scientific Name Anthidium manicatum Paratrechina longicornis
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Megachilidae Formicidae
Size 10-17 mm 2.5-3 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe Pantropical, Global in heated buildings
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wool Carder Bee

A robust yellow-and-black solitary bee whose females scrape plant hairs to line their nests. Males are territorial and aggressively patrol flower patches, even attacking bumblebees.

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Did You Know?

Males have five sharp spines on their abdomen that they use to body-slam intruding bees.

Longhorn Crazy Ant

A small dark brown ant with extremely long antennae and legs that moves in rapid, jerky patterns. It is one of the most widely distributed tramp ant species in the world.

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Did You Know?

Its original native range is unknown because it has been spread by human commerce for so long.