Red Velvet Ant vs Gypsy Moth Parasite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Velvet Ant | Gypsy Moth Parasite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla magnifica | Cotesia melanoscela |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Braconidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Southwestern United States, Mexico | Europe, Eastern North America |
| 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.
Gypsy Moth Parasite
A small braconid introduced to North America to control the invasive gypsy moth. It attacks early-instar caterpillars and larvae emerge to pupate externally.
Did You Know?
It was one of the first parasitoid wasps deliberately imported to North America for classical biological control in the early 1900s.