Dorsal view of a pinned male velvet-ant on a grey background. The body is a brilliant metallic blue, with magenta tints on the all three body segments. The legs and antennae are darker, almost black in some places. The wings are extended away from the body and are smokey throughout. Scattered, erect, dark hairs are scattered across the body and legs. The abdomen has some additional pale setae, especially on the 2nd and 3rd segments.The body is punctate; the back end of the thorax is more heavily sculptured with a reticulate pattern. This specimen was collected in Australia and is the species Ephutomorpha corusca.

Re-sharing this image for #BlueMonday . This is NOT a jewel wasp ( #Chrysididae ), but rather a velvet-ant ( #Mutillidae ).

I know, right?

#BlueBugs
#Bluetillidae
#BlueVelvet (-ant) [RIP David Lynch]