Velvet ant

Mutillidae

Their name refers to the dense pile of speciaized hairs called setae, and the bright colors function as a defense against predators and helps deflect against bees and wasps.

Not evaluated Invertebrates North America

At the Zoo

Insect Zoo.

Fascinating facts

Mutillidae are a family of more than 3,000 species of wasp whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants.
Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair which most often is bright scarlet or orange but may also be black, white, silver, or gold.
Velvet ants are also known as cow killers or mule killers because of their extremely painful sting. Like all wasps, they can sting multiple times.

Physical characteristics

The exoskeleton of all velvet ants is unusually tough. This characteristic allows them to successfully invade the nests of their prey and also helps them retain moisture. Velvet ants range in size from 1/8 inch to one inch. Red, orange, yellow, black or white bristle-like hairs, known as setae, cover the entire body. Males have wings but no stingers, while females have stingers but lack wings.

Habitat

Over 150 species of velvet ants occur throughout the United States, southern Canada and Mexico, although this is a rough number. They live in all parts of the desert from hot and dry to semiarid areas to scrublands.

Diet

Nectar is their preferred food.

Social behavior

Velvet ants are active during the day, and they may be some of the first insects to hit the trail in the morning and last to settle in for the night. They retreat from high ground temperatures in the middle of the day by burrowing under debris or climbing into plants.