South American Velvet Ant vs Mountain Ladybird

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Velvet Ant Mountain Ladybird
Scientific Name Traumatomutilla indica Coccinella quinquepunctata
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Mutillidae Coccinellidae
Size 15-22 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions South America Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

South American Velvet Ant

A large tropical velvet ant with striking black and orange patterns. Despite its species name, it is native to South America and not India.

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Did You Know?

Its species name 'indica' was assigned in error and does not reflect its true South American distribution.

Mountain Ladybird

A five-spotted ladybird commonly found in alpine meadows and mountain pastures. It is an active predator of aphids on alpine plants.

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Did You Know?

Massive aggregations of this species have been observed on mountain summits during migration.