Plantain Gall Weevil vs Doorkeeper Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Plantain Gall Weevil | Doorkeeper Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mecinus pyraster | Colobopsis truncata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Curculionidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 3-4 mm | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Europe | Southern and Central Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Plantain Gall Weevil
A small cylindrical weevil that causes stem galls on plantain. Larvae develop inside swollen plant stems. An inconspicuous but very common species.
Did You Know?
Causes distinctive swellings on plantain stems that are easy to find even when the tiny weevil itself is not visible.
Doorkeeper Ant
A European carpenter ant in which soldiers have uniquely flattened, plug-shaped heads used to block nest entrances in plant stems. Workers are bicolored yellow and dark brown. They nest in hollow twigs and galls of various trees.
Did You Know?
Soldier ants literally use their flattened heads as living doors, opening the nest entrance only when nestmates present the correct chemical password.