Banded Velvet Ant vs Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Velvet Ant | Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla occidentalis africana | Xyela minor |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Xyelidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Southern Africa, East Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly
A tiny sawfly with the characteristic elongated third antennal segment of its ancient family. Adults emerge in early spring to coincide with pine pollen release.
Did You Know?
Xyelid sawflies time their adult emergence precisely to the few weeks when pine male cones are shedding pollen, their larvae's only food source.