Red Velvet Ant vs Banded Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Velvet Ant | Banded Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla magnifica | Dasymutilla occidentalis africana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southwestern United States, Mexico | Southern Africa, East Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Red Velvet Ant
A large, brilliantly red-haired velvet ant found in the arid regions of the American Southwest. Females are wingless and run rapidly across open ground.
Did You Know?
Its exoskeleton is so tough that entomological pins often bend when researchers attempt to mount specimens.
Banded Velvet Ant
A wingless wasp covered in dense orange and black velvety hair. Despite the name, it is actually a solitary wasp, not an ant.
Did You Know?
Their sting is so painful it has earned them the nickname 'cow killer' despite being unable to actually kill cattle.