Bug

[ines68]

Here some bug I found today... It looks like a mating between a spider, a wasp and a big ant. (have no wings and is hairy). The spots are color gold

 

[Steven]

What the ???, what's that kind of bug?, never seen anything like that,.... very intresting, is it about an inch or smaller?

keep those pictures coming Ines

 

[ORION_DV8]

what you have there is a species of wingless wasp found in the americas known as a velvet ant family Mutillidae, careful their sting is quite painful in Guarico we call them "Mata Burro" or donkey killer
ORION

 

[ines68]

Originally posted by ORION_DV8
"Mata Burro" or donkey killer
ORION

Hi Orion, yes I read right now that in the US they call it Cow killer... I like the "mata burro" name more , before you guys post the information here I set it free (unfortunately in my apartament balcony )

 

[Wade]

To add to what Orion said, that one is a female, as the males do have wings. They are solitary and the female seaches the ground for burrows of ground nesting bees and other insects. She will lay eggs on the pupae of other insects which her larvae will feed on. The adults feed on nectar, tree sap or other sweet liquids.

Here's a picture of a large one (more than an inch) from the eastern part of the US, Dasymutila occidentalis:

 

[ines68]

They have nice colors!!! I love this bugs

 

[Steven]

that last one looks indeed beautiful

 

[ines68]

I decide to keep the wasp (yes I found her) here is a better picture of it:

 

[Wade]

Ines-

You can feed it just about any sweet liquid, from sugar water to fruit juice. Sliced grapes work well. I use watered down maple syrup in a shallow dish. They will drown themselves in open liquid, so I usually cumple up a paper towel in the dish and it can suck the liquid from that.

Although they are solitary wasps, they don't seem to mind each other, so if you find anymore you can keep them together. At least that's been the case with the D. occidentalis

Wade

 

[ines68]

Thanks Wade, I was just using sugar water

 

[Steven]

what's the size of that last one?,

looks impressive again

 

[ines68]

Originally posted by gongyles
what's the size of that last one?,

looks impressive again

0,9 inch