Velvet Ant vs Arctic Clouded Yellow
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Velvet Ant | Arctic Clouded Yellow |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasymutilla occidentalis | Colias tyche |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Pieridae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 40-50 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Arctic Russia, Siberia, northern Alaska, Yukon |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Velvet Ant
Not actually an ant but a wasp. Females are wingless and covered in dense, colorful hair. Known as "cow killers" for their extremely painful sting. Parasitize ground-nesting bees.
Did You Know?
Velvet ants have been called the most indestructible insects — their exoskeleton is so tough that entomological pins bend when trying to pierce them.
Arctic Clouded Yellow
A medium-sized butterfly with pale greenish-yellow wings and prominent dark borders. The underside has a silvery-white discal spot. It has a powerful, direct flight over open tundra landscapes.
Did You Know?
This butterfly is so well adapted to the Arctic that it can fly in wind speeds that would ground most temperate butterflies.