This “Panda” Isn’t Cuddly—Meet the Fuzzy Wasp Known as the Cow Killer

The post This “Panda” Isn’t Cuddly—Meet the Fuzzy Wasp Known as the Cow Killer appeared first on A-Z Animals.

If you’ve ever seen an odd-looking ant running across the ground, it might be a panda ant (Euspinolia militaris). This cool-looking insect is black with white spots, like a mini version of a panda bear. It is also fuzzy, with soft fur covering its body. But despite their fun name and cute look, panda ants are actually neither pandas nor ants. They are a type of wasp instead, and are definitely not cuddly! (That doesn’t make them less cute, though.)

These insects are part of the Mutillidae family. The black-and-white coloring helps distinguish between males and females, as only females have the black-and-white markings of a panda bear. This distinctive marking also helps warn potential predators that panda ants are a threat, as the females have large, venomous stingers that run about half the length of their bodies. This extremely painful sting is what gave the insects the nickname “cow killer.” To be fair, these ants can’t actually kill a cow; their sting just hurts enough to make you think they could. Again, these are not cuddly creatures! Panda ants are also called velvet ants due to their plush fur, which comes in different colors for the males of the species.

See one of these impressive creatures up close in a video by Costa Rica Nature Photography. The video captures a female panda ant in perfect clarity, as it scurries over twigs, leaves, and rocks on the ground. If you didn’t know it was a wasp, you would probably mistake it for an ant.

Difference between females and males

Female panda ants have no wings, which is why they look more like ants than typical wasps. They have impressive leg muscles that allow them to run quickly. Research has found that the largest species of velvet ant can run at a speed of about 14 centimeters per second. Considering the fact that they are only 1/8-inch to 1-inch long, that’s pretty impressive! Females are the only ones with the cool panda coloring, while male panda ants have fur that is red, orange, or white with black legs.

Male panda ants don’t have stingers, but they do have wings. During mating season, male panda ants lift female panda ants into the air to mate. Researchers believe this behavior may help them avoid predators while mating, prevent other males from interfering, or stop the female from escaping.

Afterward, female panda ants go underground to find a spot to lay eggs in the nests of ground-nesting bees, wasps, flies, or beetles. They are parasitoid insects that take over a host’s nest. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the host’s pupae, then pupate and emerge as adults. As adult panda ants, they mostly feed on flower nectar. A female panda ant can lay up to 2,000 eggs during her two-year lifespan.

Where are panda ants found?

There are over 150 known species of velvet ants found throughout the U.S., southern Canada, and Mexico, although this number is only an estimate. Velvet ants live near places where host species dig their nests, such as meadows, clover fields, forest edges, and deserts. They are most prevalent in hot, dry regions of the Western Hemisphere, but some species are also found in other parts of the world, including Australia and the U.K.

Effective defense mechanisms

Panda ants defend themselves from predators using their protective exoskeleton, their sting (in females), and a high-pitched screeching sound. Panda ants rub their legs or antennae together to produce this shriek, which wards off predators. Other wasps can make similar noises, but the sound produced by panda ants can reach ultrasonic levels.

These parasitic wasps are incredibly resilient when faced with predators. One 2018 study put a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals against the velvet ant, and only one type of animal was able to kill one velvet ant: a single American toad. This demonstrates the impressive defensive abilities of these creatures.

Luckily, panda ants are typically not aggressive toward humans. Still, it’s best to leave them alone. Avoid stepping on them or trying to pick them up, as they will sting you in self-defense. Panda ants should be admired from a distance and simply relocated to the yard if you find one in your house. They are beautiful and unique creatures, but just like other wasps, they are not friendly insects to play with!

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