#3572 · 🐝 bees, wasps & ants

Zandsteekmier

Myrmica sabuleti

🐝 Bees, wasps & ants 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Sean Birk Bek Craig · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
2. © Philipp Hoenle · CC0
3. © Bakos Ádám · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © Rasmus Allesoee · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. 6581 Malden, Holandia:© Bartosz Fidor · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Bennekom, Holandia:© Bartosz Fidor · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. 5571 Bergeijk, Netherlands:© Max Devis · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. 2041 KZ Zandvoort, Netherlands:© Daniel Onneweer · CC BY 4.0
9. Mook, Netherlands:© Bartosz Fidor · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Malden, Netherlands:© Eidiu · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

Myrmica sabuleti is a species of ant in the genus Myrmica . The species is indigenous to Europe and most colonies are polygynous. The Phengaris arion caterpillars parasitically prey on the species as it hatches on thyme buds and then tricks the ants into believing it is one of their own larvae, ants then carry it to their nest where it feeds on the ant grubs for 10 months before pupating and emerging as a butterfly.

base stats

NL sightings 58iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 727iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 58 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist.
727 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert in 1861 (165 years ago).