Stats

Lifespan

Annual

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Desert

Range

Worldwide

Movement

Walking

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Venom

Status

Common

About

This wingless wasp lives in dry, sandy soil across many temperate regions. Its thick, fuzzy coat hides a stinger capable of piercing tough insect exoskeletons.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Mutillidae