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Velvet Ant

Traumatomutilla

Description:

Appears black with yellow strips on it's rear. Part of the Mutillidae family.

Habitat:

Western region of Brazil.

1 Species ID Suggestions

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago
Velvet Ant
Family Mutillidae


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11 Comments

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

You're very welcome Ray, glad to help!

teamrainforest
teamrainforest 12 years ago

Wow. I will not be trying to pronounce that name publicly. I updated the name, respectfully. You make me want to change professions :-)

Thank you again @oxyjack!

-Ray

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

My friend the Mutillid expert recognized the genus of your velvet ant! He says it's Traumatomutilla.

teamrainforest
teamrainforest 12 years ago

I plan to catch of these (very carefully I might add) and take some clearer photos.

teamrainforest
teamrainforest 12 years ago

Wow. This is really interest. Your insight is very helpful. Thank you @oxyjack!

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

One more from NE Brazil: similar but the pattern on the abdomen is different: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/artour_...

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

I'll send your pics to a Mutillid specialist I know and see if he can ID it for you.

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

Here's an Australian species: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/jean_ho...

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

All the females are wingless, but the males are winged. Their common name refers to the fact that the females look like ants (but be careful, the have a very strong sting!). I can link to pictures of similar Mutillids, but I can't find that same species. Here's one from Trinidad, for example: http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/901...

teamrainforest
teamrainforest 12 years ago

I've seen many of these ants in the region, and all have no wings. Are their any other photos that show an ant similar to this one?

oxyjack
oxyjack 12 years ago

This looks like a velvet ant, a female wasp of from the Family Mutillidae.

teamrainforest
Spotted by
teamrainforest

Mato Grosso, Brazil

Spotted on Mar 9, 2012
Submitted on Mar 14, 2012

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Reference

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