Thistledown Velvet Ant vs Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thistledown Velvet Ant | Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla gloriosa | Profenusa thomsoni |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Southwestern United States from California to Texas | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Thistledown Velvet Ant
A strikingly beautiful velvet ant covered in long white hair that resembles a piece of thistledown blowing across desert sand. The wingless females are a remarkable mimic of windblown plant material.
Did You Know?
Its white fluffy appearance camouflages it among the creosote seed pods and dried plant debris of its desert habitat.
Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
A tiny black sawfly whose larvae create distinctive blotch mines within birch leaves. Mined leaves develop brown, papery patches.
Did You Know?
Heavy infestations can cause over 80 percent of birch leaves to become mined, giving trees a scorched appearance by late summer.