The paradox of the velvet-ant (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae)

Female diurnal velvet-ants are among the insects most strongly protected against predation. These protections include an exceedingly hard and tightly fitting integument, powerful legs rapid running ability, aposematic color, warning stridulation, odor, and, famously, legendarily stings. Small to medium-sized were rarely injured or killed in tests potential predators. Velvet-ant stings painful, often so, but have low toxicity lethality of defensive value primarily by causing intense pain. Despite being well defended predators they do not form night-time resting aggregations that might enhance mutual protection.