Mutillidae
Pronunciation: [Mew·TILL·i·dee]
Common Name: Velvet ants; Cow killers
Description: Velvet ants are predatory wasps (they are not closely related to ants). In most species, the females are wingless. They can be recognized by their hairy bodies – often brightly colored with red, yellow, or orange on black. Females have a painful sting which has earned them the common name “cow killers”. Larvae mostly parasitize ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Spot ID Key Characters:
- Body moderately to densely covered with hair
- Often brightly colored with red, orange, or yellow
- Ring of hair present on each abdominal segment
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Order: Hymenoptera
