Dasymutilla

Types of Wasps and Bees Types of Bees Wasps

The name velvet ant refers to wasp species in the Mutillidae family, so named because the females of the species are large, fuzzy, wingless insects that resemble large ants.

Sixteen genera live in the United States, often making their presence known as they wander sandy soils during the summer season looking for the nests of other solitary wasps and bees in order to lay their eggs on the larvae.

Dasymutilla, the largest genus, with some fifty species. The large number makes it difficult to identify any one species. The top picture might show dasymutilla lepeletierii.

Getting a picture is a matter of following one on her travels, waiting for her to stop and investigate a potential hole in the sand.

It is advisable to otherwise leave them along. The red body signals danger, and the sting of many species is described as one of the most painful stings in the wasp family.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels