Wroughton's Army Ant vs Bearded Robber Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wroughton's Army Ant Bearded Robber Fly
Scientific Name Aenictus wroughtonii Machimus atricapillus
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Formicidae Asilidae
Size 2-3 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wroughton's Army Ant

A small reddish-brown army ant that conducts well-organized raids on termite mounds in tropical Asia. Workers are monomorphic and completely blind. Colonies are nomadic, regularly shifting their bivouac sites.

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Did You Know?

Their queens are dichthadiiform, meaning they are permanently wingless with a massively swollen abdomen devoted to egg production.

Bearded Robber Fly

A common European robber fly with a prominent mystax (facial beard) of bristles that protect its face during prey capture. It hunts from perches on bare ground and low vegetation.

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Did You Know?

Its dense facial beard of stiff bristles acts as a protective cage, shielding its eyes from the thrashing legs of captured prey.