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Velvet Ant Wasp

mutillidae sp.

Published on Project Noah
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-6.8468, 107.581

Field Notes

Description:

A black wasp with a black tipped, red abdomen, mating with a small female.

Habitat:

Adjacent to a small stream. Altitude 1000m.

Notes:

At first sight, just another wasp with its dinner. But I have previously identified this wasp and so immediately knew what I was looking at. A rare opportunity indeed.

Reference Links:

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Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
folicallychalled
Yes, normally in the world of arthropods, the female is larger than the male. Because of the strategy of depositing eggs in other wasps nests, it is an advantage to be small. The female also has lost its wings and mimics an ant - evolution at work. Dave

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Van Java Wildlife
Mission
Wild Bandung
Mission
Arthropods of Java

Tags

Photographed
PublishedFebruary 25, 2014

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