Velvet Ant

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A female velvet ant
A female velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.)

Velvet ants are not really ants, but rather a type of wasp of the order Hymenoptera which also includes bees and ants. Their velvety appearance comes from the tiny hairs covering their exoskeleton. The wingless females are colorful with yellow, orange or scarlet on their body, which serve as a warning to deter any potential predator. In addition, they also possess long stinger curled inside the abdomen that can deliver one of the most painful stings among insects. A close up view will reveal that they lack the "waist" or pedicel between the thorax and the abdomen, a key feature of ants. A parasitoid wasp, female velvet ants lay their eggs in the larvae or pre-pupa of other insects. The winged males are rarely seen, and are known to visits flowers, while the females are more likely to be spotted on the ground or among understorey shrubs.


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