Velvet ants are wasps, not really ants. Adult females are 5 to 20 mm long, wingless, and ant-like. The head and body are covered with dense hairs. The color is generally a brilliant red, orange, or yellow with two black bands on the abdomen. The antennae and legs are black.
Males are somewhat larger and have two pairs of wings.
The larva is a white legless grub. Velvet ants are widely distributed throughout the South and West. They are usually found in open areas. Although widely distributed, velvet ants are rarely abundant in any area. Velvet ants are active throughout the warm periods of the year.