Panda Ants, Ectoparasitism, and killing cows

Welcome to 2021 and the arrival of a new series of Wacky Wednesday posts! To kick things off we’re looking at what happens when a Panda is crossed with an ant; the Panda ant!

Scientific name: Euspinolia militaris

Geographic location: sclerophyll forests of Chile, south-west United States

Distinguishing feature: 8mm long, hairy, with black and white spots

Conservation status: Not Endangered

Just joking! Panda ants, also known as a type of velvet ant, are technically a species of wasp!

Like their big, fluffy, bamboo-munching namesakes they are covered in black and white hairs. Whilst they may look cute and funny looking to us, for many animals in the wild, their pattern is a threat.

Panda ants have a painful sting capable of taking down animals much bigger than themselves. Whilst also referred to as the cow killer wasp, there isn’t any evidence that they can actually kill cows. Humans have described their sting as ‘unbearably painful’.

When threatened, they respond by making sounds produced by rubbing body parts together. This ability is called stridulation. Although it’s still unknown why researchers have found that these noises are so high frequency they’re ultrasonic!

In addition to packing a serious stinger punch, female panda ants lay their eggs inside cells of other insect broods. This is a parasitic relationship known as ectoparasitism, meaning they live outside of their host. This can potentially offer them extra protection and a better chance of survival.

Whilst perhaps cute and cuddly looking, you might want to keep your distance from this Wacky insect!

Tell me, what would you like to learn about next week? Share this post with a friend who thinks insects are cool!