Foam Grasshopper vs European Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Foam Grasshopper | European Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dictyophorus spumans | Mutilla europaea |
| Order | Orthoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pyrgomorphidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 50-80 mm | 10-15 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Southern Africa | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Foam Grasshopper
A large black and red grasshopper that produces a foul-smelling toxic foam when disturbed. It is one of Africa's most recognizable grasshoppers.
Did You Know?
The toxic foam it produces from its thoracic glands contains cardiac glycosides concentrated from the milkweeds it eats.
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.