Author Gary Taylor ◦
Velvet ants, one of my all time favourite little critters. In the family Mutillidae they are related to the Thynnid wasps and are a wingless wasp (females only) but oh so much more capable.
The females (kleptoparasites of ground nesting native bees and other wasps) don’t need to rely on the males to carry them to a flower to feed, they can do that themselves quite adequately… And as well as often having bright “warning” colours, they can also produce a warning “chirping” sound from their abdomen, and a foul smelling chemical too, in case their attacker is both blind and partially deaf (like a mole) to ward off predators, and if that still doesn’t work they are known to have one of the most powerful stings of any insect (in the southern states of America they have a bright red one they call the “Cow killer”…). Add that to an exoskeleton so hard that scientists have recorded bending steel pins trying to pin them them to a specimen board it’s no wonder they’re also called “The indestructible insect”. 😃
In one science journal I read many years ago, the author (clearly speaking from personal experience) said “…although in no way aggressive, do not try to handle them as they will defend themselves vigorously…” 😂
Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
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