Exploding Ant vs European Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Exploding Ant | European Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colobopsis explodens | Mutilla europaea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 10-15 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Exploding Ant
Minor workers can deliberately rupture their own bodies in an act of self-sacrifice, releasing a toxic sticky yellow secretion that entangles and kills attackers. Described new in 2018.
Did You Know?
When threatened, these ants literally explode — minor workers contract their abdominal muscles so violently they burst open, spraying toxic glue on attackers in a suicidal defense.
European Velvet Ant
A robust wingless wasp with black and orange-red banding and dense velvety hair. Females enter bumblebee nests to lay eggs on their pupae.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few insects that specifically targets bumblebee nests, sneaking in while the colony is less active.