Sphaeropthalma
Sphaeropthalma is a genus of velvet ants in the family Mutillidae.
| Sphaeropthalma | |
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| Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (male) | |
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| Subfamily: | Sphaeropthalminae |
| Tribe: | Sphaeropthalmini |
| Genus: | Sphaeropthalma |
Description
Sphaeropthalma are among the smaller velvet ants. Many species have red hair (common to many species in the family), while a few are more pink or white, or black. The genus is largely made up of species that are active only at night. Some, however, are active during the day. The ones which have pink hair are nocturnal.[1]
Habitat
Most dry areas, or open areas.
Behavior
Scurries along the ground, in search of solitary wasp nests, which it will parasitize.
Prey species
These wasps prefer to invade nests of bembicine wasps, e.g. cicada killers, horse guard wasps.
References
- Eaton, Eric R. and Kaufman, Ken. Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, 2007. Houghton Mifflin Co. ppg. 350-351
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