Sacken’s Velvet Ant

Description

This listing is for Sacken’s velvet ant, Dasymutilla sackenii. Their coloration of hairs (setae) ranges in from yellowish to beige and gray on black bodies. These velvet ants are often confused with thistledown velvet ants but they are a different species.

These tend to be a little larger than the other species we sell through the website. $14 each. Limit one per customer due to low inventory, sorry.

Disclaimer- They are wingless female wasps with a very powerful sting. Buyer beware! If you have an allergy to bee stings, we encourage you not to buy this pet insect. Rumor has it that stings from these insects are significantly more painful than stings from honeybees, for example.

These may weakly climb glass or plastic and so a well-fitting lid with smaller ventilation holes should be used. They do like a dry tank and like to eat/drink sugary liquids. We offer them beetle jellies (see related products, below). We typically spoon a little jelly into an upsidedown lid or feeding dish for them and then re-wet it by misting (just) the jelly every 2 or so days to keep it moist for them.

These make wonderful communal tankmates with blue death-feigning beetles or other darklings (see related links below).

Photos on Bugguide

Specimens at the beginning of my @bugsincyberspace Instagram video below…

 

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A post shared by Peter Clausen (@bugsincyberspace)