Malagasy Velvet Ant vs Bordered Rose Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Velvet Ant | Bordered Rose Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla madagascariensis | Arge cyanocrocea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Argidae |
| Size | 10-18 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Herbivores |
| Regions | Madagascar | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Malagasy Velvet Ant
Despite its name, this is actually a wingless female wasp covered in dense, velvety orange and black hair. Males are winged and rarely seen.
Did You Know?
Its sting is legendarily painful, earning velvet ants the nickname 'cow killers' in some regions, though the sting is not actually lethal.
Bordered Rose Sawfly
A compact sawfly with a striking combination of an orange body and metallic blue-black wings. Larvae are green with orange heads and feed on rose leaves.
Did You Know?
This species is sometimes confused with its relative Arge ochropus, but can be distinguished by its blue-tinged rather than purple-tinged wings.