Dasymutilla magnifica
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Dasymutilla magnifica, also known as the magnificent velvet ant, is a species of velvet ant found in Mojave and Sonoran deserts, and in the Arizona mountains, in the Great Basin region of North America. Field identification of this species is difficult because it is very similar in size and coloration to Dasymutilla klugii, which has a partially overlapping range. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Magnificent Velvet Ant sighting in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 55th most-seen of the 190 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September to December
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Magnificent Velvet Ant in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and July, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Magnificent Velvet Ant sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Magnificent Velvet Ant sightings, Joshua Tree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Saguaro National Park (United States, about 10%) and Zion National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Magnificent Velvet Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Joshua Tree National Park (28 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
