When you think of pollinators, a winged ant probably isn’t what comes to mind. However, zoom in on this winged ant and you will see its body is covered in pollen. You may also be asking what’s the difference between a winged ant and a termite? These two bugs look pretty similar to the naked eye. One way you can tell the difference between them is that a winged ant has elbowed antennae. A termite has short beaded antennae. Another difference between the two is that winged ants have a constricted waist, while a termite’s waist is broad. Finally, for a winged ant the fore wings are bigger than their hind wings. A termite’s fore and hind wings are the same size. 

This flower goes by a few names including oxeye daisy, moon daisy, marguerite daisy, and field daisy. It is found throughout the United States; however, it is not native to these lands, and in fact it is considered an invasive species. Although it is a pretty flower, it is also considered a widespread weed. Why is it considered to be such a threat? Like many invasive species, oxeye daisies can reproduce at scale. In fact, one plant can produce 26,000 seeds! The seeds remain viable for weeks. Sometimes the flowers grow in dense colonies and outcompete the native plants in that area. Oxeye daisies are also a nuisance to the agriculture industry. In cattle pastures, oxeye daisies spread quickly. Cattle will not eat the daisies, and the ones that do are said to produce unpalatable milk. Because the cattle do not eat the daisies, they continue to spread across the grazing lands. In fact, these flowers spread not only by seed displacement, but also by fragmental regeneration. Oxeye daisies can grow a new plant from a rhizome fragment, essentially an underground plant stem. So, to recap these flowers can reproduce aboveground and underground.