In the female velvet ant, these microstructures ... For instance, why do male velvet ants not have ultra-black pigmentation and instead reflect light at a much higher rate than females?

And in velvet ants, the answer may be multi-fold. Female velvet ants are parasites of certain species of wasps and bees, seeking out their nests and laying eggs on the helpless pupae. And when ...

One of the most striking examples is the desert-dwelling thistledown velvet ant, which may be mimicking the fluffy white seed cases of the creosote bush, which is found in the same habitats. It can be ...