Yellow-legged Hornet vs European Amazon Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow-legged Hornet European Amazon Ant
Scientific Name Vespa velutina Polyergus rufescens
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae Formicidae
Size 20-30 mm 6-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Meadows
Diet Predators Predators
Regions East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Yellow-legged Hornet

An invasive Asian hornet with a dark body and yellow leg tips now spreading rapidly across Europe. It is a major predator of honeybees near hive entrances.

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Did You Know?

Since arriving in France in 2004 in a shipment of pottery, it has spread to most of Western Europe.

European Amazon Ant

An obligate slave-making ant that raids colonies of Formica ants to steal pupae. The kidnapped workers then perform all domestic duties for the Polyergus colony.

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Did You Know?

Their sickle-shaped mandibles are so specialized for fighting that they cannot feed themselves or care for their own brood.