The velvet ants of Mt. Diablo: Mutillidae diversity and natural history

The velvet ants of Mt. Diablo: Mutillidae diversity and natural history

Mutillidae are usually referred to as Velvet Ants because of their hairy, ant-like appearance. They are not ants, but actually solitary parasitic wasps that are mostly nocturnal with some females being active in the last couple hours of daylight. Mutillids tend to occur where hosts dig their nests and are often found in open, dry, sunny, sandy areas. Read more