Orange Ant with Stinger - Gelis - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#522410

Copyright © 2011 Neece

Orange Ant with Stinger - Gelis -

Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia, USA
May 12, 2011

A very small orange-ish ant with a stinger and 2 black stripes.

Contributed by Neece on 30 May, 2011 - 7:13pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Bob Carlson, 30 May, 2011 - 7:41pm

Wingless wasp

I think it's a wingless wasp, maybe related to this one:

… John F. Carr, 30 May, 2011 - 7:18pm

Wow!

I've never heard of a wingless wasp! Thanks so much! :)

… Neece, 30 May, 2011 - 7:19pm

Difference

You can tell the difference by the clearly visible ovipositor. Many parasitic wasps keep it permanently extended. The stinging wasps, where the ovipositor is used exclusively to inject venom, normally keep it inside when they aren't using it. Ants and bees are classified with the stinging wasps.

So this is a female, because it has an ovipositor.

… John F. Carr, 30 May, 2011 - 8:18pm

Very cool

Thank you, that's so interesting. :)

… Neece, 31 May, 2011 - 10:12am

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