Mutilla europaea

Mutilla europaea
Male of Mutilla europaea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Mutillidae
Subfamily: Mutillinae
Genus: Mutilla
Species: M. europaea
Binomial name
Mutilla europaea
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Apis aptera Uddman, 1753
  • Mutilla similis Harris, 1782
  • Mutilla schaefferi Schrank, 1802
  • Mutilla coerulans Lepeletier, 1845
  • Mutilla cyanea Lepeletier, 1845
  • Mutilla panzeri Lepeletier, 1845
  • Mutilla obscura Nylander, 1847
  • Mutilla kaschiriensis Baer, 1848
  • Mutilla laevigata Sichel & Radoszkowski, 1870
  • Mutilla notomelas André, 1902
  • Mutilla europaea f. rufula Hoffer, 1938
  • Mutilla europaea f. nigrescens Hoffer, 1938
  • Mutilla europaea f. ruficeps Hoffer, 1938

Mutilla europaea is a species of parasitoid wasp belonging to the family Mutillidae.

Description

Mutilla europaea can reach a body length of 11–17 millimetres (0.43–0.67 in) in males, of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) in the females. These wasps are covered in dense velvet-like hair. Males have dark, transparent wings, while females are wingless and may frequently be confused with members of the true ant family (hence the common name of Velvet Ants). Adults display aposematic coloration, consisting of black overall coloring with an orange-red patch on the dorsal surface of the thorax. On the abdomen there are three whitish or yellowish hairy bands. The adults can be found from the end of May to end of August.

Mutilla europaea are mainly parasitoids of the resting stage of bumblebees (Bombus spp.), but occasionally visits honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives and Polistes wasps nests, ovipositing inside the cocoons. The larva of this wasp eats the immature bumblebee larva and nymphs and feed on the host honey and pollen stores. Then the larva of Mutilla spins a cocoon inside the cell of its host.

Distribution

This species is widespread in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic ecozone, in the Near East and in North Africa.

Habitat

This parasitic wasp is mainly montane and it is particularly widespread in the Alps, but can also be found in different habitats (woodland, grassland, etc.).

References

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