Black Slip Wasp vs Spiny Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Slip Wasp | Spiny Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pimpla instigator | Polyrhachis dives |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Southeast Asia, southern China, India |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Slip Wasp
A medium-sized black ichneumon wasp that parasitizes butterfly and moth pupae. Uses its ovipositor to penetrate through cocoons. A common and widespread species.
Did You Know?
Can drill its ovipositor through tough pupal cases and silk cocoons to reach the developing insect inside.
Spiny Ant
A distinctive Asian ant with paired spines on the petiole and propodeum. Workers are metallic dark brown and build nests from silk produced by larvae, similar to weaver ants. Colonies are arboreal and highly territorial.
Did You Know?
They are commonly eaten as a protein-rich food in parts of southern China, where they are harvested from silk nests in trees.