Red Velvet Ant [Dasymutilla magnifica]:
2 types of velvet ant, the Red and Thistledown. They are not an ant, but, a wasp, capable of inflicting a painful sting! Not as much is known about the Red, but it is suspected that it's "lifestyle" is similar to the Thistledown. It is parasitic by design, seeking out sand wasp dens, (that's why it was moving in and out under the edge of rocks). Sand wasps have a stock of flies for feeding their larvae. Velvet ants drop their eggs in the nest, which eat the larder of flies AND the sand wasp larvae. Adults are thought to feed on nectar. Males are kind of a deep red and winged, females are burnt orange and wingless.
*Note: This critter WAS NOT photographed on the grounds, (although there are numerous individuals living here at the place).
Photos taken on Friday's evening ride with SunDog and Zach. Photo with Sidi shoe is for perspective puposes.
2 types of velvet ant, the Red and Thistledown. They are not an ant, but, a wasp, capable of inflicting a painful sting! Not as much is known about the Red, but it is suspected that it's "lifestyle" is similar to the Thistledown. It is parasitic by design, seeking out sand wasp dens, (that's why it was moving in and out under the edge of rocks). Sand wasps have a stock of flies for feeding their larvae. Velvet ants drop their eggs in the nest, which eat the larder of flies AND the sand wasp larvae. Adults are thought to feed on nectar. Males are kind of a deep red and winged, females are burnt orange and wingless.
*Note: This critter WAS NOT photographed on the grounds, (although there are numerous individuals living here at the place).
Photos taken on Friday's evening ride with SunDog and Zach. Photo with Sidi shoe is for perspective puposes.
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