Dasymutilla connectens
This record describes Dasymutilla connectens (species). Recorded family: Mutillidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A a rarer member of the desert Müllerian group colored very similarly to both D. eminentia and D. magna with gray to pale yellow body setae. The thorax is elongate as in D. magna (versus wide in D. eminentia ), but the head is thicker.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Pompiloidea
- Family
- Mutillidae (Velvet Ants)
- Subfamily
- Sphaeropthalminae
- Tribe
- Dasymutillini
- Genus
- Dasymutilla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se CA & s. AZ; into adjacent Mexico (BC, BCS, & SO)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Dasymutilla connectens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Dasymutilla connectens (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jonathan Hoskins
Frequently Asked Questions About Dasymutilla connectens
What is Dasymutilla connectens?
Dasymutilla connectens is a species in the family Mutillidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Dasymutilla connectens?
A a rarer member of the desert Müllerian group colored very similarly to both D. eminentia and D. magna with gray to pale yellow body setae. The thorax is elongate as in D. magna (versus wide in D. eminentia ), but the head is thicker.
Where is Dasymutilla connectens found?
Range: se CA & s. AZ; into adjacent Mexico (BC, BCS, & SO)