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
Red imported fire ant the burning sensation caused by its sting. Alternative names include: the "fire ant", "red ant" or "tramp ant". In Brazil, locals call the ant "toicinhera", which derives from the Portuguese word "toicinho" (pork fat). The red imported fire ant was first described by Swiss entomologist Felix Santschi in a 1916 journal article published by "Physis". Originally named "Solenopsis saevissima wagneri" from a syntype worker collected from Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Santschi believed the ant was a variant of "S. saevissima"; the specific epithet, "wagneri", derives from the surname of E.R. Wagner, who collected the first specimens. The type material is