Velvet ant: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:48, 9 February 2025

Family of wasps

Velvet ants are a group of wasps in the family Mutillidae, known for their dense, velvety hair and painful sting. Despite their common name, they are not true ants. The family includes over 3,000 species worldwide.

Description[edit]

Velvet ants are characterized by their bright colors and dense hair, which can be red, orange, yellow, or white. The females are wingless and resemble large, hairy ants, while the males are winged and more wasp-like in appearance. The sexual dimorphism in this family is quite pronounced.

Behavior[edit]

Velvet ants are solitary insects. The females are known for their powerful sting, which has earned them the nickname "cow killers" in some regions. They are parasitoids, laying their eggs in the nests of other insects, particularly ground-nesting bees and wasps. The larvae then consume the host larvae.

Distribution[edit]

Velvet ants are found in various habitats, including deserts, forests, and grasslands. They are most diverse in arid and semi-arid regions.

Gallery[edit]

A velvet ant in its natural habitat
Dasymutilla occidentalis, commonly known as the "cow killer"
Nemka viduata viduata in motion
Proposed higher classification of Mutillidae

Related pages[edit]

References[edit]

Brothers, D. J. (2017). "Proposed higher classification of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea)". Journal of Hymenoptera Research.
Schmidt, J. O. (1986). "Chemistry, pharmacology, and chemical ecology of ant venoms". In: Piek, T. (ed.) Venoms of the Hymenoptera. Academic Press.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Velvet Ant'''
+{{short description|Family of wasps}}
+{{Taxobox
+| name = Velvet ants
+| image = Velvet_ants_-_female_-_various_Dasymutilla.jpg
+| image_caption = Various female velvet ants (''Dasymutilla'' species)
+}}
-The '''[[Velvet Ant]]''', also known as '''[[Dasymutilla]]''', is a large group of wasps belonging to the family '''[[Mutillidae]]'''. Despite their common name, velvet ants are not ants but are actually wasps. The name "velvet ant" refers to the dense hair on their bodies, which can be brightly colored and gives them a velvety appearance.
+'''Velvet ants''' are a group of wasps in the family [[Mutillidae]], known for their dense, velvety hair and painful sting. Despite their common name, they are not true ants. The family includes over 3,000 species worldwide.
-== Description ==
+==Description==
+Velvet ants are characterized by their bright colors and dense hair, which can be red, orange, yellow, or white. The females are wingless and resemble large, hairy ants, while the males are winged and more wasp-like in appearance. The sexual dimorphism in this family is quite pronounced.
-Velvet ants are known for their distinctive, furry bodies, which are often brightly colored in shades of red, orange, or black. The females are wingless and resemble large ants, while the males have wings and are capable of flight. Velvet ants range in size from 3 to 30 millimeters in length.
+==Behavior==
+Velvet ants are solitary insects. The females are known for their powerful sting, which has earned them the nickname "cow killers" in some regions. They are parasitoids, laying their eggs in the nests of other insects, particularly ground-nesting bees and wasps. The larvae then consume the host larvae.
-== Distribution and Habitat ==
+==Distribution==
+Velvet ants are found in various habitats, including deserts, forests, and grasslands. They are most diverse in arid and semi-arid regions.
-Velvet ants are found worldwide, with over 8000 species described. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from deserts to forests, and are particularly common in arid and semi-arid regions.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+File:Mutillidae-Kadavoor-2016-07-26-001.jpg|A velvet ant in its natural habitat
+File:Dasymutilla_occidentalis_(3726943361).jpg|''Dasymutilla occidentalis'', commonly known as the "cow killer"
+File:Nemka_viduata_viduata_-_2012-10-17.webm|''Nemka viduata viduata'' in motion
+File:Brothers_2017_Proposed_higher_classification_of_Mutillidae.jpg|Proposed higher classification of Mutillidae
+</gallery>
-== Behavior and Ecology ==
+==Related pages==
+* [[Wasp]]
-Velvet ants are solitary insects. The females, which are unable to fly, spend most of their time on the ground searching for the nests of other insects. They are known for their extremely painful sting, which has earned them the nickname "cow killer" in some regions.
+* [[Ant]]
+* [[Parasitoid]]
-== Life Cycle ==
-The life cycle of the velvet ant is complex and involves several stages. The female lays her eggs in the nests of other insects, such as bees and wasps. The larvae then feed on the host larvae, eventually pupating and emerging as adults.
-== Human Interaction ==
-While velvet ants are not typically aggressive towards humans, they will sting if threatened or handled. Their sting is considered one of the most painful of any insect, but it is not dangerous unless the person is allergic to their venom.
-== Conservation Status ==
+==References==
+* Brothers, D. J. (2017). "Proposed higher classification of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea)". [[Journal of Hymenoptera Research]].
-Most species of velvet ants are not considered threatened or endangered. However, like all insects, they are affected by habitat loss and other environmental changes.
+* Schmidt, J. O. (1986). "Chemistry, pharmacology, and chemical ecology of ant venoms". In: Piek, T. (ed.) Venoms of the Hymenoptera. Academic Press.
-== See Also ==
-* [[Mutillidae]]
-* [[Insect]]
-* [[Wasp]]
-[[Category:Insects]]
+[[Category:Mutillidae]]
 [[Category:Wasps]]
-{{Insect-stub}}