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Found on log, under bark.

Started By Loops117 , Jun 8 2016 8:19 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Loops117 - Posted June 8 2016 - 8:19 PM

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Location: Mid Michigan

Area: On side of log, under bark. Was in claustral(sp?) chamber. Couldn't find any eggs.

6mm in length. Maybe a bit more or less.

 

I tried getting a picture of her with her antenna out, but she hides them and "plays dead" when i try to position for a picture.

 

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Edited by Loops117, June 8 2016 - 8:26 PM.

#2 Offline drtrmiller - Posted June 8 2016 - 8:22 PM

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A velvet ant. Not an ant at all, but rather a wasp that parasitizes bees.

Edited by drtrmiller, June 8 2016 - 8:22 PM.

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#3 Offline LC3 - Posted June 8 2016 - 8:22 PM

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It looks cute.


Edited by LC3, June 8 2016 - 8:23 PM.

#4 Offline Reacker - Posted June 8 2016 - 8:23 PM

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I don'tknow if that's actually an ant. Looks a lot like a flightless wasp to me. 

 

edit: 3 instantaneous replies!


Edited by Reacker, June 8 2016 - 8:23 PM.

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#5 Offline Loops117 - Posted June 8 2016 - 8:30 PM

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Ok, after doing some research. I found out this is a velvet ant queen. I know what these girls are capable of, and i'm am beyond happy i didn't touch her.

 

Edit: Holy crap, that was quick. Thank you guys for the quick responses.


Edited by Loops117, June 8 2016 - 8:31 PM.

#6 Offline JWRay - Posted June 8 2016 - 9:18 PM

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Yep, certainly a velvet ant.  Although a small one by velvet ant standards.

 

The big ones, affectionately know as Cow Killers, can pack quite a punch.

 

I don't think they have queens in the ant sense of the word, as they are solitary.

 

Females are wingless, males tend to be winged and look quite a bit more like the wasp that they actually are.

 

Cool find.


#7 Offline Kingjay - Posted June 9 2016 - 11:41 AM

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Nice find man. To me it looks like a type of hornet because of the jaws.

#8 Offline Loops117 - Posted June 9 2016 - 11:49 AM

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Nice find man. To me it looks like a type of hornet because of the jaws.

Pretty good guess! It's actually a flightless wasp, known as the Velvet Ant. She packs a pretty mean sting though.


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