Red Velvet Ant vs Red-banded Netelia
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Velvet Ant | Red-banded Netelia |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla magnifica | Netelia testacea |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Southwestern United States, Mexico | Europe, Asia |
| 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.
Red-banded Netelia
A slender orange-brown ichneumonid wasp active at night in summer. It is an ectoparasitoid of noctuid moth caterpillars.
Did You Know?
Females glue their egg to the host caterpillar's skin so it cannot be dislodged.