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Velvet ant wasp - Genus - Ephutomorpha There were many black wasps flying very low to the ground in a frantic fashion, obviously searching for something.  I then noticed what I believed at first to be an red ant hurriedly running around the ground with its abdomen raised upward. One of the flying wasps grabbed the red ant wasp and at first looked as if it wanted to sting the ant. Slowly I realised that what I was observing was a female velvet ant with updomen raised up signaling, possibly releasing pheromones to attract males . The black winged male in the 2nd photo was trying to mate with the female.Also I remembered uploading a photo a while back of a female velvet ant wasp. Australia,Geotagged,Spring Click/tap to enlarge

Velvet ant wasp - Genus - Ephutomorpha

There were many black wasps flying very low to the ground in a frantic fashion, obviously searching for something. I then noticed what I believed at first to be an red ant hurriedly running around the ground with its abdomen raised upward. One of the flying wasps grabbed the red ant wasp and at first looked as if it wanted to sting the ant. Slowly I realised that what I was observing was a female velvet ant with updomen raised up signaling, possibly releasing pheromones to attract males . The black winged male in the 2nd photo was trying to mate with the female.Also I remembered uploading a photo a while back of a female velvet ant wasp.

    comments (1)

  1. Whoa, awesome capture! Posted 5 years ago

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By Ernst

All rights reserved
Uploaded Nov 21, 2019. Captured Nov 18, 2019 09:20 in Halls Ln, East Kurrajong NSW 2758, Australia.
  • Canon EOS 650D
  • f/6.3
  • 1/332s
  • ISO400
  • 69mm