What Family Do Velvet Ants Belong To?
WouterHaving a hard shell, multiple setae, and a stinger, the velvet ant is a parasitoid. Velvet ants are found in more than 400 species worldwide. Their unique morphology makes them difficult to pierce with steel pins.
Velvet ants are parasitoid wasps that live on the larvae and pupae of other insects. Female velvet ants lay eggs in the nests of ground-nesting wasps or bees, where the larvae feed on the host.
Velvet ants can be found in a variety of habitats worldwide. The eastern US is home to the largest species of velvet ant, the cow killer ant (Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica). The ant is a common pest in urban landscapes, and is commonly found in open areas.
Velvet ants can be distinguished from other wasps by their aposematic coloration, which consists of eight distinct mimicry rings. They are also known for their strong defenses. These defenses include a strong exoskeleton, a stinger, and a chemical alarm signal.
The red velvet ant, or cow killer ant, is a common parasitic wasp found in the eastern US. It has a black body with an orange-red pattern on the thorax. Its sting is very painful.
The velvet ant’s defenses include a hard exoskeleton, an effective chemical alarm signal, and a stinger that is half its body length. Its exoskeleton is also strong enough to withstand a sting from a host wasp.
The velvet ant’s chemical alarm signal is the easiest to see, but it’s the sting that gives them their name. It’s a strong and painful sting that gives the ant a fair warning to predators.
