Velvet Ant Wasp

Description:

Hymenoptera; Mutillidae; Unidentified Mutillidae. Wikipedia states: "The Mutillidae are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps 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." When I spotted the two females at about 9:00 a.m., I wasn't certain, but I suspected that they were wingless wasps. So, I spent the whole morning until midday looking for a male i.e. one that looked the same, but with wings. All to no avail - see notes below.

Habitat:

I spotted these Velvet Ant Wasps on foliage at the edge of a rice field. In this small place, there is very little interference from humans. The undergrowth is dense and is shaded by the canopy of a row of mango trees between the edge of the road and the rice field. This is a place which I have noted down as a "hotspot" for insect life and other biodiversity. It is known locally for regular sightings of Reticulated Pythons and Tree Snakes. I know it best for a wealth of bugs and spiders.

Notes:

When I was processing the two photos of female Velvet Ant Wasps in my laptop in the afternoon, I decided to check back over my pictures taken in that "hotspot" just in case I had a male that I had not identified. I did not look very far. The pictures taken there two days before included two Velvet Ant Wasps, which turned out to be males. So although they were not spotted on the same day, they were in the same place just 48 hours earlier. So it made sense to include them in this spotting. I must mention: The two wasps which I am calling Velvet Ant Wasps and assuming that they are connected to the females on that site must be treated as "incertae sedis". I cannot find my reference for them. When I come across it, I will add it here.