Banded Velvet Ant vs Encyrtus Scale Parasite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Velvet Ant | Encyrtus Scale Parasite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla occidentalis africana | Encyrtus infelix |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Encyrtidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Gardens |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Southern Africa, East Africa | Mediterranean, North America, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Banded Velvet Ant
A wingless wasp covered in dense orange and black velvety hair. Despite the name, it is actually a solitary wasp, not an ant.
Did You Know?
Their sting is so painful it has earned them the nickname 'cow killer' despite being unable to actually kill cattle.
Encyrtus Scale Parasite
A parasitoid wasp that attacks soft scale insects on citrus and ornamental trees. It was among the earliest parasitoids used in classical biological control programs.
Did You Know?
Its introduction to California in the late 1800s was one of the pioneering successes of classical biological control.