Strange Ant I've Never Seen Before

[Weaselton]

After spending hours online searching to find out what this is I'm left with more questions than answers I've never seen anything quite like it where I live. I'm sure it'll be obvious to an expert so hopefully someone on here can tell me what it is I threw it into a test tube just in case it's a queen.

Caught in Virginia 7/29/19. It's just barely longer than 1mm in length.

I posted it to youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alyc6wRKswU

[Whitelotus]

I am not certain of the genus but she is beautiful.

[Weaselton]

She sure is I'm wondering if maybe it is some kind of invasive species or something. So colorful. I've noticed her rear end has some yellow pollen looking stuff on it. I'm not sure what that means or what it could be? Day 5 and she seems to be doing okay. I checked for the first time today and she's just nestled in the corner of her test tube.

[sartwell90]

She looks like she might actually be a type of solitary wingless wasp called a velvet ant. Though I haven't personally seen one of that color, they have pretty fantastic variety so I wouldn't be surprised.


I added a picture of one that looks similar, family Mutillidae.

[Weaselton]

Thank you so much! Yeah, that's exactly what she looks like Super disappointing that it's actually a wasp ugh... I guess there's always next time.

[sartwell90]

Thank you so much! Yeah, that's exactly what she looks like Super disappointing that it's actually a wasp ugh... I guess there's always next time.

No problem! I think velvet ants are pretty amazing looking creatures, and in action they can be pretty cool too! If you're looking for a queen though I get the disappointment especially seeing they have similar thoraxes. Best of luck and may the queens find you!