Dasymutilla atricauda
Mickel, 1936
Dasymutilla atricauda is a of velvet ant ( Mutillidae), a group of solitary in which females are wingless and males are winged. The species was described by Mickel in 1936. Like other members of the , females possess a potent sting and exhibit aposematic coloration warning of their defensive capabilities. The species is part of the large Müllerian mimicry complex formed by North American velvet ants.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dasymutilla atricauda: //ˌdæsɪmjuːˈtɪlə ˌætrɪˈkɔːdə//
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Taxonomic Note
Dasymutilla atricauda was described by Clarence E. Mickel in 1936. The specific epithet 'atricauda' derives from Latin 'ater' (black) and 'cauda' (tail), likely referring to a dark-colored . The belongs to a that has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with molecular studies in 2010 consolidating multiple former species into broader species concepts such as D. bioculata.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Insect FAQs | Entomology Research Museum
- Bug Eric: Wasp Wednesday: Dasymutilla bioculata
- The gloriously dichromatic Dasymutilla gloriosa | Beetles In The Bush
- A sting to kill a cow? Red velvet ant, a.k.a. cow killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis — Bug of the Week
- Mutillidae | Beetles In The Bush
- Bees vs wasps: what's the difference? - Buglife Blog - Buglife