Mutillidae durable, the exoskeleton is also round, making it more difficult for predators to pierce it with attempted stings or bites. During all the trials that led to the fracture of a velvet ant’s exoskeleton, a total of 4 times, resulted in the death of that velvet ant within 24 hours. Thus aside from protection from predators, the exoskeleton provides a function maintaining moisture control. Male mutillids fly in search of females; after mating, the female enters a host insect nest, typically a ground-nesting bee or wasp burrow, and deposits one egg near each larva or pupa. Only a few species
Myrmecia (ant) the venoms from these ants are among the most toxic in the insect world. In Tasmania, 3% of the human population are allergic to the venom of "M. pilosula" and can suffer life-threatening anaphylactic reactions if stung; many human deaths have been recorded. People prone to severe allergic reactions can be treated with allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation). The generic name "Myrmecia" derives from Greek word "Myrmec-" (+ -"ia"), meaning "ant". In Western Australia, the Australian Aborigines called these ants "kallili" or "killal", meaning "lion-ant". Ants of this genus are popularly known as bulldog ants, bull ants or jack jumper ants. This