Many thanks to Kevin Williams for identifying the species on this page and his assistance with Mutillidae matters!
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith and Jeni Oborn and are used with permission.
MUTILLIDAE - VELVET ANTS
Velvet Ants (or Cow Killers as they commonly known on account of their incredibly painful sting) are a fascinating group of hymenopterans found largely in dry, sandy areas. Wingless females resemble large, brightly-coloured ants, but winged males may be so different that they look like completely different species. Only females sting (as in all hymenoptera) and are capable of stinging several times. A structure known as a stridulitrum located on the metasoma allows them to produce a squeaking sound when handled, a warning to would-be predators. Females can be recognised by "felt-lines" (lines of hair-like structures on the metasoma) and the fact that the segments of the mesosoma are fused dorsally. Larvae are parasitic, eggs being laid close to wasp or bees nests and the emergent larvae eventually killing and eating its host.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
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FIGURE 1
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FIGURE 2
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FIGURE 3
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FIGURE 4
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FIGURE 5
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FIGURE 6
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FIGURE 1 - Traumatomutilla centralis female - PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2007).
FIGURE 2 - Traumatomutilla centralis female - PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith April 2011).
FIGURE 3 - Hoplocrates specularis ? female - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2008).
FIGURE 4 - Traumatomutilla graphica female - Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 5 - Traumatomutilla latevittata female - Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith May 2010).
FIGURE 6 - Pertyella sp ? female - Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Jeni Oborn May 2010).
