Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee vs South American Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee | South American Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus variabilis | Traumatomutilla indica |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 15-22 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Parasites | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central and Eastern North America | South America |
| Conservation | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee
A rare social parasite bumble bee that takes over colonies of other Bombus species in North America. Queens invade host nests, kill the resident queen, and enslave her workers.
Did You Know?
It produces no workers of its own and depends entirely on the labor of its host species to raise its offspring.
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.
Did You Know?
Its species name 'indica' was assigned in error and does not reflect its true South American distribution.