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
Tupolev ANT-37 Tupolev ANT-37 The Tupolev ANT-37 (or DB-2) was a Soviet twin-engined long-range bomber designed and built by the Tupolev design bureau, the design team operating under the guidance of Pavel Sukhoi. The aircraft did not enter production, but three examples of the type were used for research and record breaking flights. Based on the unbuilt Tupolev ANT-36 (DB-1) single-engined bomber, the ANT-37 was a twin-engined monoplane of stressed skin, dural construction, fitted with a high-aspect-ratio wing and tailwheel landing gear, the main units retracting into the engine nacelles. Powered by Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engines, the prototype first flew on 16