Banded General Soldier Fly vs Red Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded General Soldier Fly | Red Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stratiomys potamida | Dasymutilla magnifica |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Southwestern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banded General Soldier Fly
A large, boldly marked soldier fly with a broad flat abdomen bearing yellow lateral markings. Its aquatic larvae are elongate and can breathe through a posterior spiracle at the water surface.
Did You Know?
Larvae can survive in heavily polluted water where most other aquatic insects cannot live.
Red Velvet Ant
A large, brilliantly red-haired velvet ant found in the arid regions of the American Southwest. Females are wingless and run rapidly across open ground.
Did You Know?
Its exoskeleton is so tough that entomological pins often bend when researchers attempt to mount specimens.