Wasp mimics ant. View of a wasp of the family: Mutillidae, in which the wingless females (as seen here) closely resemble an ant. This wasp group are consequently called 'Velvet ants'. The female reaches 1.5cm in length. Apart from downy hairs covering her body, she is ant-like in appearance and running behaviour. Her markings mimic certain moderately dangerous ants in what is known as Mertensian mimicry. The wasp itself can deliver a fatal sting, so that no animal learns to avoid it later. However, if it resembles moderately dangerous ants, predators will associate it with unpleasant consequences and in this way attacks on it are discouraged. Photographed in Costa Rica.

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