Mutillidae

Common Name

Velvet Ants

Overview

Velvet ants, belonging to the family Mutillidae, are a family of wasps. Despite their common name, they are not ants at all. The family includes over 3,000 species found worldwide, known for their striking appearance and potent sting.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Hymenoptera
• Family: Mutillidae

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: Female velvet ants are wingless, resembling ants, while males are winged. Both sexes are covered in dense, colorful setae (hair), which can be red, orange, yellow, black, or white.
• Size: Ranges from 6 to 20 millimeters.
• Sting: Females have a highly painful sting, often described as one of the most painful stings among insects.

Life Cycle

• Reproduction: Females lay eggs in the nests of other solitary bees and wasps.
• Larvae: Upon hatching, the larvae feed on the host larva or pupa, eventually killing it.
• Pupation: Larvae pupate within the host nest before emerging as adults.

Behavior and Ecology

• Habitat: Commonly found in sandy and arid environments.
• Diet: Adults usually feed on nectar.
• Behavior: Females are solitary and rarely seen in large numbers. They are known for their loud, squeaking noise when alarmed.

Notable Species

• Dasymutilla occidentalis: Commonly known as the "cow killer," renowned for its painful sting.
• Ephutomma quadrimaculata: Identified by its distinctive black and red coloration.

Conservation

Most species of velvet ants are not currently endangered, though habitat destruction could impact local populations.

Significance to Humans

• While the sting of a velvet ant is extremely painful, they are not aggressive and will only sting when handled or threatened.
• Their role as parasitoids helps control the populations of their host insects.

Fun Facts

• Velvet ants are sometimes called "cow killers" due to the tremendous pain of their sting.
• The wingless females can often be seen running quickly on the ground.
• Some species exhibit remarkable mimicry, resembling ants, to avoid predators.
• They produce a stridulation sound as a warning when threatened.
• Despite their fearsome reputation, velvet ants play an important role in the ecosystem.