Asian Velvet Ant vs Yellow Ophion
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Asian Velvet Ant | Yellow Ophion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Smicromyrme rufipes | Ophion obscuratus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 8-14 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasitoids |
| Regions | South Asia, Southeast Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Asian Velvet Ant
A small to medium velvet ant with reddish legs and black body found across southern Asia. It parasitizes various ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Did You Know?
It produces a distinctive squeaking sound when handled by rubbing specialized structures on its abdomen together.
Yellow Ophion
A laterally flattened, tawny-yellow parasitoid wasp active at dusk and after dark. Its larvae develop as internal parasitoids of noctuid moth caterpillars.
Did You Know?
Its laterally compressed abdomen is thought to help it slip between grass blades when searching for host caterpillars.