648 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
Family MuTlLLiDiE (Mu-til'li-dae). 
The Velvet-ants. 
These handsome insects resemble ants in the general 
form of the body, but lack the scale-like knot of the pedun¬ 
cle of the abdomen characteristic of those insects, although 
there is a constriction between the first and second abdomi¬ 
nal segments (Fig. 769). The body is densely 
covered with hair, which gives the insects the 
appearance of being clothed in velvet; and as 
the body is usually ringed with two or more 
strongly contrasting colors, they are very conspicuous. The 
colors most commonly worn by the velvet-ants are black 
and scarlet. The males are winged and frequent flowers. 
The females are wingless; but they run very fast, and can 
sting severely. 
These insects are abundant in the warmer portions of 
our country; our lists now include one hundred and sixty 
North American species. The largest of these and a very 
common species is Splicer op hthalma Occident alls (Sphaer-oph- 
thal'ma oc-ci-den-ta'lis). This species measures from two- 
thirds of an inch to a little more than an inch in length; it 
varies in color, but is usually black and scarlet. It is known 
to dig burrows in beaten paths and store in them flies and 
other insects. It will also enter bee-hives and kill and eat 
bees. In Texas it is known as the Cow-killer ant, because 
of a popular superstition that its sting is very dangerous to 
live stock. 
Several exotic species of Mutilla live in nests of bumble 
bees; but whether they exist there as parasites or as inqui- 
lines has not been determined. Species of Mutilla have also 
been bred from nests of other digger-wasps, and from those 
of certain true wasps. 
Fig. 769. 
