Australian Velvet Ant vs European Thick-headed Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Velvet Ant | European Thick-headed Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ephutomorpha queenslandica | Myopa buccata |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Conopidae |
| Size | 8-15 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Australia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Velvet Ant
An Australian wingless wasp with orange and black velvety coloring. It parasitizes ground-nesting native bees in tropical and subtropical Queensland.
Did You Know?
Australian velvet ants are far less studied than their American counterparts, with many species still awaiting formal description.
European Thick-headed Fly
A small reddish-brown conopid fly with a distinctively swollen face and downward-curving proboscis. It is commonly found basking on sunny tree trunks and fences in spring.
Did You Know?
It times its emergence with the spring flight period of its Andrena bee hosts, waiting on sunny surfaces to ambush them.