How to Identify Mutillidae

Mutillidae is a animal family in the Animalia kingdom, order Hymenoptera, class Insecta. The family contains 45 accepted species worldwide.

Key Identification Features

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Representative Mutillidae Species

How to identify Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)

Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)

Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)

Dasymutilla occidentalis is a parasitoid velvet wasp commonly mistaken for an an…

How to identify Dasymutilla magnifica Mickel

Dasymutilla magnifica Mickel

Dasymutilla magnifica Mickel

Dasymutilla magnifica (the magnificent velvet ant) is a North American velvet an…

How to identify Dasymutilla satanas Mickel, 1928

Dasymutilla satanas Mickel, 1928

Dasymutilla satanas Mickel, 1928

Satan's velvet ant (Dasymutilla satanas) is a large North American Great Basin d…

How to identify Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure, 1868)

Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure, 1868)

Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure, 1868)

Dasymutilla gloriosa, the thistledown velvet ant, is a mid-sized North American …

How to identify Dasymutilla gorgon (Blake, 1871)

Dasymutilla gorgon (Blake, 1871)

Dasymutilla gorgon (Blake, 1871)

Dasymutilla gorgon is a velvet ant species native to central North America, rang…

How to identify Dasymutilla foxi

Dasymutilla foxi

Dasymutilla foxi

Dasymutilla foxi is a locally common velvet ant species found in Mexico and the …

How to identify Myrmosa unicolor

Myrmosa unicolor

Myrmosa unicolor

Myrmosa unicolor is a species of wasp classified within the wasp family Myrmosid…

How to identify Mutilla europaea Linnaeus, 1758

Mutilla europaea Linnaeus, 1758

Mutilla europaea Linnaeus, 1758

Mutilla europaea, the velvet ant, is a parasitoid wasp widespread across Europe,…

How to identify Dasymutilla pseudopappus (Cockerell, 1895)

Dasymutilla pseudopappus (Cockerell, 1895)

Dasymutilla pseudopappus (Cockerell, 1895)

Dasymutilla pseudopappus is a North American native velvet ant species found in …

How to identify Ronisia ghilianii (Spinola, 1843)

Ronisia ghilianii (Spinola, 1843)

Ronisia ghilianii (Spinola, 1843)

Ronisia ghilianii is a Mutillidae wasp species, whose females closely resemble t…

How to identify Ronisia barbarula (Petersen, 1988)

Ronisia barbarula (Petersen, 1988)

Ronisia barbarula (Petersen, 1988)

Ronisia barbarula is a Mutillidae wasp species distinguishable by its distinctiv…

Browse all 45 Mutillidae species →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify Mutillidae?

Mutillidae animals belong to the Hymenoptera order in the Animalia kingdom. This species can be recognized by its distinctive black coloration with bright red markings on the upper side of the head, thorax, and abdomen. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.

What are the key characteristics of Mutillidae?

Mutillidae is classified in the order Hymenoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda. Females of Ronisia ghilianii look very similar to females of Ronisia barbarula, but the two can be distinguished by the shape of the white hair spot on the head: the spot is roundish in R.

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer

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