Adults of the tiphiid wasp, Myzinum sp. They can occur in large numbers, sometimes on flowers of landscape plants. Females seek the immature stages of ground-nesting bees, digging to the nesting chambers and eating a hole through the cocoon. She deposits and egg on the host larva, which soon hatches into a white legless grub. The immature velvet-ant eats the host larva, developing through several larval stages before forming a pupa.
Mouthparts are for chewing.
Lone females can be found crawling on the ground, particularly in open sandy areas. Adults are most common during the warm summer months. Larvae are solitary, external parasites of developing bumble bees. For additional information, contact your local Texas extension service agent, or search for other state extension service offices.