Where do velvet ants live despite their name?
Quick Answer
Velvet ants are found mostly in dry, open habitats across North America, with related species in other parts of the world. They are actually wingless female wasps, not ants.
The Full Story
Velvet ants are not ants at all; they are wasps in the family Mutillidae. They are especially well known from dry, sandy, open habitats in North America, though related species occur in many warmer regions worldwide. The females are wingless and often covered in dense bright hairs, which gives them their common name. Many species are parasitoids, developing in the nests of other insects. Their vivid colors and painful sting have earned them a fearsome reputation.
Key Facts
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