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Panda ant: The wasps whose black and white females have giant stingers and parasitic babies

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Name: Panda ant (Euspinolia militaris)

Where it lives: Chile

What it eats: Nectar from flowers, small insects

Why it's awesome: Despite the name, panda ants are a type of wasp belonging to the Mutillidae family, whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. They have a velvety white coat, with black spots around the eyes and body — similar to pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

This unusual coloring is generally only seen in females, according to National Geographic. It is aposematic, meaning it  warns predators of its powerful, venomous sting, which isn't deadly to humans but can be very painful. Only females have stingers, which are roughly half the length of their 0.3-inch-long (8 millimeters) bodies, as they are modified egg-laying organs.

Like in all wasps, the stinger is smooth, meaning the insects can sting time and time again.

Panda Ant Sting! - YouTube Panda Ant Sting! - YouTube
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Panda ants don't form colonies but lead solitary lives in hot, dry coastal areas of Chile. They forage for food, which includes flower nectar and small insects, and they tend to live in sandy areas where they can easily hunt for food and find other insects’ nests to lay their eggs in.

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