Dasymutilla gloriosa, sometimes referred to as the thistledown velvet ant,[1][2] is a member of the genus Dasymutilla. Only females are wingless, as in other mutillids. Compared to other mutillids, it is mid-sized, being larger than some of the smallest known species like Dasymutilla vesta but smaller than some of the largest known species like Dasymutilla klugii.[3] It ranges from Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and south into Mexico.
Rather than having aposematic coloration like other mutillids, the females of this species are camouflaged by their resemblance to the fruit of Creosotebush, which occurs in the same habitats. However, this species' coloration appears to be primarily an adaptation to hot desert conditions instead of predation pressure; their internal and external body temperature are less compared to orange Dasymutilla species in the same habitat.[2]
Like other mutillids, the females of this species can administer a very painful sting as a defense mechanism. Being a mid-sized mutillid, the sting delivered is more powerful than most smaller mutillids', but weaker than most larger mutillids'.[3]
^ abWilson, Joseph S.; Sidwell, Jeni Sage; Forister, Matthew L.; Williams, Kevin A.; Pitts, James P. (2020-07-29). "Thistledown velvet ants in the desert mimicry ring and the evolution of white coloration: Müllerian mimicry, camouflage and thermal ecology". Biology Letters. 16 (7): 20200242. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2020.0242.
^ abSchmidt, Justin O.; Schmidt, Li S.; Schmidt, Deborah K. (2021-08-24). "The paradox of the velvet-ant (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae)". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. doi:10.3897/jhr.84.68795.
dasymutilla, gloriosa, sometimes, referred, thistledown, velvet, member, genus, dasymutilla, only, females, wingless, other, mutillids, compared, other, mutillids, sized, being, larger, than, some, smallest, known, species, like, dasymutilla, vesta, smaller, t. Dasymutilla gloriosa sometimes referred to as the thistledown velvet ant 1 2 is a member of the genus Dasymutilla Only females are wingless as in other mutillids Compared to other mutillids it is mid sized being larger than some of the smallest known species like Dasymutilla vesta but smaller than some of the largest known species like Dasymutilla klugii 3 It ranges from Utah Nevada California Arizona New Mexico Texas and south into Mexico Dasymutilla gloriosaFemaleMaleScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraSuborder ApocritaSuperfamily PompiloideaFamily MutillidaeSubfamily SphaeropthalminaeGenus DasymutillaSpecies D gloriosaBinomial nameDasymutilla gloriosa Saussure 1868 SynonymsMutilla gloriosa Saussure 1868Mutilla tecta Cresson 1875Dasymutilla reperticia Mickel 1928Rather than having aposematic coloration like other mutillids the females of this species are camouflaged by their resemblance to the fruit of Creosotebush which occurs in the same habitats However this species coloration appears to be primarily an adaptation to hot desert conditions instead of predation pressure their internal and external body temperature are less compared to orange Dasymutilla species in the same habitat 2 Like other mutillids the females of this species can administer a very painful sting as a defense mechanism Being a mid sized mutillid the sting delivered is more powerful than most smaller mutillids but weaker than most larger mutillids 3 References Edit Species Dasymutilla gloriosa Retrieved 2008 09 13 a b Wilson Joseph S Sidwell Jeni Sage Forister Matthew L Williams Kevin A Pitts James P 2020 07 29 Thistledown velvet ants in the desert mimicry ring and the evolution of white coloration Mullerian mimicry camouflage and thermal ecology Biology Letters 16 7 20200242 doi 10 1098 rsbl 2020 0242 a b Schmidt Justin O Schmidt Li S Schmidt Deborah K 2021 08 24 The paradox of the velvet ant Hymenoptera Mutillidae Journal of Hymenoptera Research doi 10 3897 jhr 84 68795 Evans Arthur V 2007 Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America Sterling Publishing Co p 371 ISBN 978 1 4027 4153 1 This Apocrita related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dasymutilla gloriosa amp oldid 1074048541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
