Ephutomorpha albosignata

Unknown.

Has been reported from the southwest of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

This wasp was approximately 12 millimetres long.

Commonly called velvet ants, these are wasps, not ants. Female velvet ants are wingless and look like ants. They search the ground looking for the nests of other wasp species. The velvet ant will lay her eggs in the other wasp’s nest. The young velvet ants will feed on the food stores laid down by the other wasp mother.

These photographs were taken in January and February.

Identification courtesy of Geoff Byrne.

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/a91fdd37-e38d-4bad-87cb-38180bff84f9

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