Nocturnal Velvet Ants and Allies
Sphaeropthalmini
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Pompiloidea
- Family: Mutillidae
- Subfamily: Sphaeropthalminae
- Tribe: Sphaeropthalmini
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Sphaeropthalmini: /sfæˌɛrɔfˈθæl.mɪˌnaɪ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
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Summary
Sphaeropthalmini is a tribe of nocturnal velvet ants, also known for few diurnal members, consisting of about 185 species across 11 genera. They are known for their striking coloration and parasitic behavior on solitary wasps.
Physical Characteristics
Sphaeropthalma are among the smaller velvet ants, many species have red hair, while a few are pink, white, or black. Males often have a mostly unicolor body and larger ocelli.
Identification Tips
Males can be very similar to each other, often making it difficult to identify them even to genus from photos. Females lack a distinct pronotum, while male wing venation generally lacks a tubular second recurrent vein and an enclosed third submarginal cell.
Habitat
Most dry areas, or open areas.
Distribution
~185 species in 11 genera primarily located in the eastern US and various dry regions.
Diet
Predominantly parasitic, laying eggs in the nests of solitary wasps such as bembicine wasps, sand wasps, and horse guard wasps.
Life Cycle
Complete metamorphosis, with eggs laid in host wasp nests.
Reproduction
Females lay their eggs in the nests of solitary wasp species, where the larvae will develop.
Ecosystem Role
Parasitic, impacting solitary wasp populations by laying eggs in their nests.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Often mistaken for ants due to their appearance; however, they belong to the wasp family Mutillidae.
Tags
- Sphaeropthalmini
- Velvet Ants
- Nocturnal Insects
- Mutillidae