Apocrita

Order Hymenoptera, the third-largest order of insects, comprises the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 species are recognized (Janke 2), with many more remaining to be described. Many factors have led to this order’s success, through the development of wings, their immense range of behavioral adaptation, and namely: their highly complex ways of self-defense, mainly those of the biochemical and morphological nature. From the famous “cow-killer” to the range of stings of the Vespidae, to the venom of harvester ants such as the Pogonomyrmex, the Hymenoptera have developed a multitude of tricks for means of survival and defense, namely with their use of venom and stinging apparatuses. The “cow-killer” (also known as the mule killer) is a frequent visitor to backyards and parks throughout the southern United States, also sometimes occurring in the Midwest. Nearly an inch long, covered with a soft, luminous red and black fur, the cow killer superficially resembles an oversized ant. The common name for these “cow-killers” and other members of this highly successful family are known as velvet ants, these 8,000+ known species derived from their ant-like appearance. In reality, velvet ants are wingless female wasps. The males are winged and look similar to other wasps, though furrier in appearance. Female velvet ants have the greatest number of defenses known for any insect; first involves their stinger, which is the longest stinger relative to body length of any of the…