Pacific Velvet Ant vs Wool Carder Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pacific Velvet Ant | Wool Carder Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla sackenii | Anthidium manicatum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Megachilidae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 10-17 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Wool Carder Bee
A robust yellow-and-black solitary bee whose females scrape plant hairs to line their nests. Males are territorial and aggressively patrol flower patches, even attacking bumblebees.
Did You Know?
Males have five sharp spines on their abdomen that they use to body-slam intruding bees.