In spite of their name, these insects are really wasps, different from common ants because their body is red, black, yellow and has colorful round spots on their abdomen. The males are smaller than the females and have wings, whereas the females have a large stinger on their abdomen. When a person or animal catches a velvet ant, the ant starts whistling and bites its enemy very hard. These insects live as parasites in beesΓÇÖ or bumblebeesΓÇÖ nests. The young hatch from the eggs as larvae.
Approximate size: Between 1 and 2 inches.
Favorite food: Larvae, small bees.
Other names: Formiga feiticeira, formiga-chiadeira.
