Pacific Velvet Ant vs Palos Verdes Blue
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pacific Velvet Ant | Palos Verdes Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla sackenii | Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 2-3 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Herbivores |
| Regions | Western North America | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Pacific Velvet Ant
A medium-sized velvet ant with orange and black coloring found along the Pacific coast of North America. It parasitizes ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Did You Know?
Males are winged and look so different from the wingless females that they were originally described as separate species.
Palos Verdes Blue
A tiny blue butterfly endemic to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County. It was thought extinct in 1983 before being rediscovered in 1994.
Did You Know?
It is considered one of the rarest butterflies in the world, with captive breeding programs helping sustain the population.