About Brazilian Velvet Ant:
- Velvet ants are a group of parasitic wasps that are well known for a suite of defensive adaptations including bright coloration and a formidable sting.
- Appearance: They are wasps, some of which are wingless, and are named in part for their exteriors. Velvet ant is known for its distinct black and white markings.
- Habitat: It is found in shrub desert in Brazil called the Caatinga.
- Characteristics:
- It demonstrates remarkable mobility and covers significant distances in pursuit of hosts on the ground.
- It is usually found throughout the day, peak activity typically coincides with the early morning and late afternoon, during periods of subdued sunlight.
- It is recently found that the black parts on female velvet ants were actually ultrablack so that they absorbed nearly all visible light.
- Why this finding is Unique?
- Ultrablack pigmentation is rare in the animal kingdom.
- In organisms that have it, it helps them hide from predators, regulate body temperature or even attract mates, as the contrast against brighter colors can be visually enticing.
