Velvet Ants | Entomology Velvet Ants ENTFACT-442: Velvet Ants | Download PDF by Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture One unusual insect that is occasionally seen running around open areas in the yard during July, August, and September is the velvet ant. Velvet ants look like large hairy ants, but they are actually wasps. They differ from ants in having only a slight constriction between the thorax and abdomen and having straight rather than elbowed antennae. They may be seen in lawns or pastures, or occasionally wandering into buildings. These solitary wasps, as the name implies, are densely covered with short hair. The males have two pairs of transparent black wings. The females are wingless, and are sometimes confused with ants. Ants, however, have elbowed antennae, and a "hump" in the constriction between the thorax and abdomen. Velvet ants are brightly colored. They are shades of yellow and brown or red and black. Velvet ants are not aggressive and will try to escape when encountered, but females have a very painful sting if handled.

Females use a long, needle-like stinger concealed at the tip of the abdomen. Many of the velvet ants can produce a squeaking sound when disturbed. Adult velvet ants feed on nectar and water. The immature stages are external parasites of bees and wasps that nest in the ground. A few species parasitize some flies and beetles. Consequently, there are no identifiable nests to treat. Velvet ants prefer pastures and fields with sandy soil where their prey are most likely to be found. There is no effective control measure for them. If they are particularly abundant in an area, it may be helpful in the long run to overseed to get a better grass cover. This would discourage the ground nesting bees and wasps on which velvet ants feed. Because velvet ants are uncommon and do not cause any damage, no chemical control is recommended. Velvet Ant One velvet ant that is commonly submitted for identification is the ‘cow killer.’ The cow killer is the largest of the velvet ants in Kentucky, nearly an inch in length. It earned its name by the reputation of the female’s sting. It is said that the sting is so painful that it could kill a cow.

The female is mostly red with some black, the male is half red and half black with dark wings. Females seek out bumble bee nests and lay eggs inside the wax cups. After bees or wasps have formed cocoons, adult female velvet ants enter the host nest by digging through the soil or breaking through nest walls. The cow killer larvae feed on the bumble bee larvae and pupae and will pupate inside the bumble bee nest. This bumble bee is ultimately killed. Issued: 9/99 Revised: 1/04 CAUTION! Pesticide recommendations in this publication are registered for use in Kentucky, USA ONLY! The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication. Of course, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE!

Images: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky Entomology Categories: Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant | Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County | University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant Return to: Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant submitted by Soni Cochran, Extension Associate An unusual insect reported in Lancaster County yards during late summer and early fall is the velvet ant. The females are wingless and are sometimes mistaken for a large, hairy, orange and black ant. These "ants" are actually wasp! A solitary wasp, the velvet ant does not live in colonies or have a "nest". They are found crawling through lawns, digging around soil, or even in garages where they have wandered in by accident. Velvet ants are not aggressive and will try to escape from you. The females have a very painful sting if handled. The name "Cow Killer Ant" was given to the velvet ant because of the reputation of the female's sting. It is said that the sting is so painful that it could kill a cow.

This handsome insect does make a sound (especially when stepped on) but the squeaks of the cow killer ant would hardly be heard over the painful screams, if the person stepping on the wasp was barefoot. For information on reproducing this article or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County is your on-line educational resource. The information on this Web site is valid for residents of southeastern Nebraska. It may or may not apply in your area. If you live outside southeastern Nebraska, visit your local Extension office Responsive. Innovative. Trusted. Two Different Velvet Ants - What's That Bug? What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination Two Different Velvet Ants Large red ant This time, with photo! Hi I found this ant crawling through my hallway and have tried unsuccessfully to identify it. Can you help? It is about 1/2 inch long. I thought it might be some type of carpenter ant; they are pretty common around here. This little guy has a very distinctive white stripe around his abdomen, though, and I couldn’t find anything similar in my bug books or online. Thank you!

Mandy p.s.: Sorry, I forgot to attach the photo the first time Hi Mandy, Though it looks like an ant, and is called a Velvet Ant, your insect is a flightless female wasp. Be careful, as she can deliver a very painful sting. (12/08/2007) Large red ant I’m sorry, but I don’t think so. I know what velvet ants look like, I have had them in my yard. (see attached photo) I know they are actually wingless wasps. They are much bigger, and much hairier than this bug. This guy is large for an ant, but only 1/2 inch. I know it looks large in the picture, but I had a hard time putting something next it for size contrast since it wouldn’t be still. Mandy Hi again Mandy, We gave you a very general answer. Velvet Ants are a family of wasps, the females of which are generally brightly colored and flightless. The family is Mutillidae. Your original image might be in the genus Timulla , or the genus Pseudomethoca , or perhaps some other genus. We are not sure of the species.

Your second photo is also a Velvet Ant, and this one is in the genus Dasymutilla. It appears to be a Cow Killer , Dasymutilla occidentalis, but the photo is too blurry to be certain. So both of your images are of Velvet Ants, but they are different species. Update: (04/02/2008) ID for insects Hey, my name is Will, this is a list of the ID’s for the velvet ant page. 3. sphaeropthalma pensylvanica. image 4. could be either dasymutilla californica, coccineohirta, or vestita depending on local. hope this helps a bit. hope this helps a bit. 2 Mutillidae - velvet ants common name: velvet ants scientific name: Mutillidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) Introduction (Back to Top) Insects in the family Mutillidae are often referred to as "velvet ants" because female members of the family lack wings and have coarse setae that cover most of their body, making them resemble hairy ants.

To the surprise of most people, mutillids are not ants at all – they are wasps Figure 1. Adult female "cow killer," Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis (Linnaeus), a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 2. Dorsal view of adult female "cow killer," Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis (Linnaeus), a velvet ant. Photograph by James Castner, University of Florida. Figure 3. Adult female Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 4. Dorsal view of an adult female Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 5. Dorsal view of an adult female Timulla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 6. Dorsal view of an adult female velvet ant.

Photograph by Clemson University, Distribution (Back to Top) The Mutillidae family contains approximately 230 genera/subgenera and about 8,000 species worldwide (Manley and Pitts 2002). Approximately 435 species occur in mostly arid areas of the southern and western parts of North America (Triplehorn and Johnson 2005). Fifty species in seven genera are found in Florida ( Table 1 ) (Krombein 1979). Biology (Back to Top) All Mutillidae are solitary parasitoid wasps that mostly attack mature larvae or pupae of other solitary Hymenoptera. However, velvet ants have been observed targeting non-feeding stages of Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Blattodea, and even some eusocial Hymenoptera (Brothers et al. 2000). Finding a matching reproductive pair can be difficult, if not impossible for some species, because of the extreme sexual dimorphism displayed within this family.

Color patterns and the relative body size of the two sexes of the same species can be very different, making it very difficult to relate one sex with the other (Mickel 1928). In Florida, male Mutillidae are frequently larger (heavier) than the females. One study in south-central Florida found that in seven out of 13 species, the males were heavier than the females. The remaining six species either showed comparable sizes between the male and female (3) or the female was larger than the male (3) (Deyrup and Manley 1986). Biological data is very scarce and differences obviously exist between genera and species, especially with regards to their life cycles and development, but the following has been reported for most Mutillidae. Females have the difficult job of locating potential hosts. Suitable hosts may be difficult to find for several reasons including: concealment, low population densities when solitary and lastly, if the hosts are eusocial, they will be heavily defended.

Once a host is located, female velvet ants parasitize the "hard" life stages (i.e., hardened pre-pupae, pupae, ootheca, eusocial cells, and cocoons) of the hosts and the emerging velvet ant larvae are essentially ectoparasites of those life stages. (Brothers et al. 2000). Once development is completed, adults leave the nest and seek a mate. Identification (Back to Top) All female Mutillidae are wingless and resemble ants. They can easily be differentiated from ants by the lack of petiole nodes, which are present on all ant species. In addition, the mesosomatic (thoracic) segments are completely fused and have at most two segments. The metasoma (abdomen) contains six visible terga (dorsal surface of any body segment) and a "felt line" of dense, closely appressed hairs is located laterally on the second metasomatic tergum (except for the genus Ephuta) (Manley and Pitts 2002, Triplehorn and Johnson 2005).

Unlike the female, the male meso- and metathorax are not fused and they have three mesosomatic segments. Their metasomal region contains seven visible terga and a felt line is also on the lateral margin of tergite II. All male Mutillidae found in Florida normally have large wings lacking jugal lobes and forewings with the M and Cu1 veins ending far from the apical margin (Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 7. Anterior wing of subfamily Sphaeropthalminae. Note: lacks jugal lobes. (From Manley and Pitts 2002) Figure 8. Anterior wing, subfamily Mutillinae, with pterostigma membranous or absent. (From Manley and Pitts 2002) 1. Metasomal segment I completely sessile with second (without petiole) . . . . . 2 1'. Metasoma petiolate or at most subsessile, with definite constriction between first two segments (Figure 9) . . . . . 5 Figure 9. Dorsal view of abdomen with petiolate metasoma.

(From Manley and Pitts 2002). 2. Eyes strongly ovate; mesosoma long, rectangular, generally narrowed medially (Figure 10); tergite II generally maculated with two spots or lines of pale setae . . . . . Timulla spp. 2'. Eyes circular to slightly ovate; mesosoma otherwise (short, rectangular or narrowed posteriorly, if narrowed medially, mesosoma pyriform not rectangular); tergite II not maculated with spots of pale setae . . . . . 3 Figure 10. Dorsal view of long, rectangular mesosoma of Timulla spp. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 3. Head, in dorsal view, less than twice the width of mesosoma (Figure 11); pygidium usually with lateral carinae, mesosoma narrowed medially; head not dentiform (toothed); if hypostomal teeth present they are not prominent, nor bent apically; posterolateral angles of head, usually not strongly carinate (ridged) . . . . . Pseudomethoca 3'.

Mesosoma as wide or wider than head in dorsal view, rectangular without fine carina between pronotum and mesonotum (Figure 12); eyes slightly ovate; mandible ventrally toothed or not; sternal felt line absent; plumose setae present or absent; integument visible, usually sparsely covered with appressed and erect simple setae; pygidium variable . . . . . 4 Figure 11. Dorsal view of Pseudometheca simillima (Smith). Note: head less than twice the width of mesosoma. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 12. Dorsal view of rectangular mesosoma of Photomorphus spp. Note: mesosoma as wide or wider than head. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 4. Pygidium dull, shagreened (rough), with parallel carinae only on basal two-thirds or less . . . . . Photomorphus, subgenus Photomorphina 4'. Pygidium smooth and shiny, with complete parallel carinae on disk . . . . .

Photomorphus, subgenus Photomorphus 5. Felt lines absent on metasomal tergite II; petiole short, transverse, parallel-sided (Figure 13); eyes distinctly ovate; a band of silvery, dense, pubescence present at apex of petiole and metasomal segment II; small; densely punctuate (subfamily Mutillinae, tribe Ephutini) . . . . . Ephuta 5'. Felt lines present on metasomal tergite II; petiole not transverse or parallel sided; eyes circular to slightly ovate; other characters variable . . . . . 6 Figure 13. Dorsal view of short, parallel-sided petiole of Ephuta spp. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 6.

Plumose setae limited to area of short dense white setae on dorsum of petiole, and apical fringe of tergite II (Figure 14); pygidial area undefined laterally by carinae; genal carina absent; flagellomere II greater than 1.75x length of first; antennal scrobe distinctly carinate dorsally; propodeum elongate . . . . . Sphaeropthalma, subgenus Sphaeropthalma 6'. Plumose setae totally absent . . . . . 7 Figure 14. Dorsal view of apical fringe of tergite II of Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (Lepeletier). (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 7. Pygidial area well-defined; petiole not diciform (rounded) (Figure 15) . . . . . Dasymutilla 7'. Pygidial area obsolete, not defined laterally; petiole distinctly disciform (Figure 16); Anterior and propodeal spiracles tuberculate (Figure 17) . . . . .

Lomachaeta Figure 15. Dorsal view of non-disciform petiole of Dasymutilla spp. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 16. Lateral view of Lomacheata spp. metasoma (af = anterior face). (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 17. Dorsal view of tuberculate anterior and propodeal spiracles of Lomachaeta variegata. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Male Specimens (Back to Top) 1. Compound eye approximately round, not emarginated, smooth and shiny (Figure 18); pterostigma sclerotized . . . . . 2 1'. Compound eye with inner margin deeply and sharply emarginated (Figures 19, 20); pterostigma membranous or absent (Figure 21) . . . . . 6 Figure 18. Rounded, not emarginated, compound eye of Photomorphus. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 19.

Emarginated compound eye of Timulla dubitata (Smith). (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 20. Emarginated compound eye of Ephuta stenognatha Schuster. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 21. Anterior wing with membranous or absent pterostigma. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 2. Metasomal segment I completely sessile with second (Figure 22); Felt line present on lateral margin of tergite II only; hypostomal tooth not developed; head less than twice width of mesosoma; posterolateral angles of head not strongly carinate or dentiform; wings macropterous . . . . . Pseudomethoca 2'. Metasoma petiolate or at most subsessile, with definite constriction between first two segments (Figure 23) . . . . . 3 Figure 22. Dorsal view of abdomen with non-petiolate metasoma. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 23.

Dorsal view of abdomen with petiolate metasoma. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 3. Felt line present on lateral margin of tergite II and sternite II; ventral mandibular tooth present (Figure 24); mesoscutal notauli present (separates mesoscutum into medial and lateral lobes); flagellomere I longer than wide, not like pedicel; hypopygium (last visible abdominal sterum) normal, rounded, lateral margins not carinate or dentiform; mesosternum with pair of longitudinal to transverse dentate ridges anterior to mesocoxae, closer to procoxae; plumose hairs vestigial or absent . . . . . . 6 3'. Felt line present on lateral margin of tergite II only; Mesotibia with two spurs; mesotibia cylindrical, not flattened and arcuate; plumose setae present or absent; mesosternum unmodified . . . . . 4 Figure 24. Mandibular tooth of Photomorphus spp. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 4.

Mandible tridentate apically, broadly emarginated ventrally with small, distinct tooth; eyes and ocelli small, not protuberant, compound eye distinctly separated from mandible, distance from compound eye to posterolateral angle of head distinctly greater than greatest diameter of eye; notauli present, complete; tergites II-V without row of lanceolate (lance-shaped) bristles at distal margin; pterostigma of forewing conspicuous; marginal cell length equal to or slightly longer than stigma; pygidium and hypopygium short, transverse . . . . . Sphaeropthalma, subgenus Sphaeropthalma 4'. Mandible bidentate or tridentate apically, but not emarginate or toothed ventrally . . . . . 5 5. Notauli absent; subplumose setae present; tergites II-V with row of lanceolate bristles at distal margin; pterostigma of forewing vestigial, inconspicuous (Figure 25) . . . . . Lomachaeta 5'.

Tergites II-V without row of lanceolate bristles at distal margin; subplumose setae absent; wing venation normal, not greatly reduced; pterostigma of forewing conspicuous (Figure 21) . . . . . Dasymutilla Figure 25. Inconspicuous forewing pterostigma of the genus Lomachaeta. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 6. Metasomal segment I sessile with second (Figure 26); humeral angles rounded . . . . . Timulla 6'. Metasomal segment I slender, short, parallel-sided, not sessile (Figure 27); humeral angles angulate, sharply produced; small; densely punctuate . . . . . Ephuta Figure 26. Lateral view of habitus with legs removed, Timulla dubitata (Smith). (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Figure 27. Lateral view of habitus with legs removed, Ephuta stenognatha Schuster. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). 7.

Mesocoxae approximate; mandible tridentate apically; mentum never produced into a distinct process . . . . . Photomorphus, subgenus Photomorphina 7'. Mesocoxae separated; mandible bidentate apically (Figure 28); mentum distinctly produced as an anterior tubercle (small nodule) or posterior lingulate (tongue-shaped) process . . . . . Photomorphus, subgenus Photomorphus Figure 28. Mandibular tooth of Photomorphus spp. (From Manley and Pitts 2002). Table 1. List of Mutillidae species reported from Florida Tribe: Mutillini Genus: Lomachaeta Mickel hicksi Mickel c aUnless otherwise noted, this list was compiled from the Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico (Krombein 1979) b(Manley and Deyrup 1987a) c(Pitts and Manley 2004) Figure 30.

Adult female "cow killer," Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis (Linnaeus), a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 31. Adult male "cow killer," Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis (Linnaeus), a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 32. Adult male Dasymutilla nigripes (Fabricius), a velvet ant. Photograph by Sean McCann, University of Florida. Figure 33. Adult male Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 34. Adult female Dasymutilla sp, a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida.. Figure 35. Adult female Dasymutilla sp, a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 36. Adult female Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Ken Gray, Oregon State University. Figure 37. Adult male Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Ken Gray, Oregon State University.

Figure 38. Adult female Dasymutilla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Ken Gray, Oregon State University. Figure 39. Lateral view of an adult female Timulla sp., a velvet ant. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Figure 40. Adult male Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (Lepeletier), a velvet ant. Photograph by Charles Schurch Lewallen. Pest Status and Management (Back to Top) Mutillidae pose no real threat to humans, livestock, or domesticated animals other than the unfortunate accidental sting associated with unaware victims. Like other stinging insects, only female Mutillidae are capable of stinging. Some species are referred to as "cow killers" or "mule killers," because their sting is said to be painful enough to kill an animal. Despite this assertion, they are not aggressive nor is their venom comparatively toxic. Most female mutillids are so docile, they produce a startle response (an audible stridilation) when provoked to warn potential victims of her sting.

The LD50 of their venom when exposed to mice is around 71 mg/kg body weight which is relatively non-toxic compared to the very toxic harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex maricopa, venom (LD50 = 0.12 mg/kg) and the moderately toxic honey bee, Apis mellifera, venom (LD50 = 2.8) (Meyer 1996). No control measures are necessary. Figure 41. Ovipositor (stinger) of an adult female "cow killer," Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis (Linnaeus). Photograph by Jeffrey C. Hertz, University of Florida. Figure 42. Ovipositor (stinger) of an unidentified, adult female velvet ant, Dasymutilla sp. Photograph by Jeffrey C. Hertz, University of Florida. Acknowledgments (Back to Top) I sincerely thank Dr. Don Manley, of Clemson University, for providing me the most current reference literature and taking the time to review this publication. I also thank Dr. Gavin Broad for graciously giving me permission to use numerous images previously published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research.

Velvet Ants Archives - What's That Bug? Location: Fillmore, California November 25, 2016 4:55 pm Can you tell me what kind of bug this is I found crawling in my backyard? Signature: Kristianne Velvet Ant Dear Kristianne, This is a Velvet Ant , a flightless female wasp in the genus Dasymutilla. Velvet Ants should be handled with extreme caution as they are reported to have a very painful sting. Based on images posted to BugGuide , we believe your Velvet Ant might be Dasymutilla sackenii. Velvet Ant Velvet Ants - Insects in the City Insects in the City The best in science-based, pest management solutions from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Search for: What is a signal word? Velvet Ants Female velvet ants are conspicuous on the surface of the ground during the day. Photo by Bob Wilkin. Bugguide.net Velvet ants are not ants at all, but a specialized group of insects belonging to the wasp family Mutillidae. Mutillid wasps can be found in Texas during the summertime in both urban and rural habitats.

They are often referred to as velvet ants because the females are wingless, ant-like and often covered with a velvety “fur”. Most kinds of velvet ants are black or brown and they may be strikingly ringed or marked with red, yellow or orange. They range in size from about one-half, to one inch-long and are frequently found outdoors in dry, open areas. Male mutillid wasps are winged and are more wasp-like in appearance. Some of the larger species of velvet ants, such as Dasymutilla occidentalis, are occasionally referred to as “cow-killers” because of the painful sting that the female can inflict. This species and some others are capable of producing a “squeaking” sound when trapped or disturbed. Other species of velvet ants are also common in Texas, including the gray velvet ant and the thistle down mutillids, Dasymutilla beutenmulleri and D. fulvohirta. Biology Knowledge about the biology of velvet ants is limited, but those that have been studied are mostly parasites on ground-nesting bees and wasps. A few species are known to attack beetles and flies.

Females spend much time in sandy areas searching for nests or aggregations of hosts. When a suitable host (e.g., a bee or wasp pupa) is found, the female lays one to two eggs inside its body. Upon hatching, the young feed on the host and devour it. Velvet ants spend the winter inside the nest of their hosts in a pre-adult (pre-pupal) stage. There is usually only one generation a year. Medical Importance People are most likely to receive a sting from a velvet ant when walking barefoot in infested areas, or by careless handling. The intensity of pain and reaction to the sting will vary according to the sensitivity of the person stung; however the sting is usually much more painful than a bee sting. Velvet ant stings should be cleaned and disinfected like a bee sting. Ice packs and pain-relievers should be applied as necessary. Because velvet ants usually travel alone and are not social, a person is unlikely to receive multiple stings. As with any stinging insect, if the sting victim experiences a generalized rash or difficulty breathing (signs of an allergic reaction) they should see a doctor immediately. Control Effective control measures for velvet ants are limited.

The best steps for dealing with a velvet ant “problem” are 1) educating children not to handle these insects and 2) wearing proper footwear in infested areas. Velvet ants have very hard bodies and are difficult to crush. For more information For more information about other stinging insects refer to Extension fact sheets E-239, Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets and Solitary Wasps or E-346, Honey Bees In and Around Buildings . These publications, and help with additional questions about other pest problems, can be obtained by contacting your county Extension office. Cow Killer Ant or Wasp Adults feed on nectar, while the larval stages are parasites of ground bees and wasps. Habitat Female cow killer wasps dig into the nests of these bees and wasps, and lay their eggs on the larvae inside the nest. When the eggs hatch, the larvae consume their host, then spit its pupal case on its host. Sting Cow killer wasp females have a very toxic sting, but males do not sting. Cow killers do not actually kill cows.

However, females have a very painful sting that legends incorrectly say is strong enough to “kill a cow.” The cow killer is not aggressive, but will produce a severe sting if stepped on or handled. If cow killers are found where you live, avoid walking outside without shoes. The range of the cow killer is from the east coast of Florida to Connecticut and westward to Missouri and Texas. Their preferred habitats are pastures and the edges of forests. In urban and suburban areas, cow killers are seen crawling through lawn vegetation, digging around in the soil, or perhaps in garages where they have wandered in by accident. Since cow killers are not aggressive, do not commonly live in areas frequented by people and cause no damage, control efforts are not normally required. Find Your Local Branch Not in {ip:cityName}? Enter a zip code below to view local branches. Go Give us a call: 844-514-3980 Or schedule a call with an Orkin Specialist today and get a FREE estimate for: Get Started Red velvet ant or "cow killer" Red Velvet Ant or "Cow Killer" Click on image to enlarge male, parasitic on white grubs; (Coleoptera:Scarabiidae).

Common Name: Red velvet ant or "cow killer" Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus) Order: Hymenoptera Description: These insects are wasps, not ants. Females are wingless and covered with dense hair, superficially resembling ants. The red velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in length. They are black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on the thorax and abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not sting. Several other species of velvet ants are common in Texas, including the gray velvet ant or thistle down mutillid, Dasymutilla beutenmulleri, and D. fulvohirta. Most are solitary parasites of immature wasps (Vespidae and Sphecidae), solitary bees and some other insects such as beetles and flies. Winged males can be confused with other Hymenoptera. Adults of the tiphiid wasp, Myzinum sp. (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) are black and yellow, 3/4 inch long . They can occur in large numbers, sometimes on flowers of landscape plants.

Larvae are parasites of white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae). Life Cycle: 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. Habitat, Food Source(s), Damage: 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. Pest Status: The common name, "cow killer," is thought to describe the painful sting these insects can inflict to man and animals, although it is doubtful that many cows are actually stung.

VELVET ANT - UF/IFAS Extension VELVET ANT If you’re a nature lover, you might be familiar with the term “warning coloration.” It’s also known, more technically, as “aposematic coloration.” Both terms refer to organisms that have evolved to sport bright, contrasting colors as a kind of danger signal to the world at large. Typically, these creatures are venomous, poisonous or foul-tasting. In the realm of arthropods, aposematic coloration is commonly associated with stinging insects from the order Hymenoptera which includes wasps and ants. Perhaps the best-known example is the yellow jacket, which has bold yellow and black bands across its abdomen. Another aposematically colored member of the Hymenoptera order is an insect commonly known as the velvet ant. These insects aren’t ants! They’re wasps. But the females are wingless and their general body structure is similar to an ant’s. Their color pattern – black and bright orange-red – adds to the impression. Velvet ants are members of the family Mutillidae, and Florida is home to about 50 species in seven genera.

One of the species that Florida residents are most likely to encounter is Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis. It’s a solitary creature, with females reaching a maximum length of about 1 inch. Florida residents are most likely to see them crawling swiftly across the ground in sandy upland areas, including yards, parks and pastures. On a bright summer day they can be amazingly easy to spot because their bodies are covered with coarse hairs called setae, which reflect sunlight effectively. That’s a good thing, because you do not want to overlook one of the females. They can sting, whereas the males cannot. (The males also have wings, which the females lack.) Velvet ants are not especially aggressive, but may sting if threatened (usually during rough handling or if they’re stepped on.) Tests indicate that their venom is considerably less toxic to mice than the venom of the European honey bee. You can read a detailed assessment of insect venom toxicity . That said, velvet ants have a fearsome reputation for toxicity. Long-time Florida residents may recall another nickname for them – “cow killers.” It’s commonly believed that velvet ant venom is so powerful that a few stings will literally end the life of a cow or bull.

However, there doesn’t appear to be any scientific evidence to support that belief. The BugWeek Web Team has searched for published studies indicating that velvet ant venom is especially toxic to cattle, and we’ve come up empty-handed. But we did come across one proposed explanation of the name “cow killer” that seems plausible. We can’t attest to its accuracy, but here it is… Cows have cloven hooves, meaning that there’s a notch in the front of the hoof, splitting it into two distinct segments. That much is beyond dispute. Well, according to one online commenter, the tissue in that notch is soft enough for a female velvet ant to penetrate with her stinger. So, if a cow is unfortunate enough to accidentally step on a velvet ant and receive a sting in that spot, the cow will quite possibly react to the pain by charging across the pasture at top speed. Though the sting itself is survivable, if the cow happens to crash into fencing or step into a gopher tortoise hole and break a leg, the rancher may have to euthanize the cow. Supposedly, this was a fairly frequent occurrence in the rural South, and occasionally the velvet ant would be found afterward, still lodged in the hoof.

Thus, ranchers supposedly began calling velvet ants “cow killers” because that was the end result of some sting incidents. Other, non-ranching folks who heard the term but not the story behind the origin jumped to the erroneous conclusion that the velvet ant’s venom was much more potent than it truly is. The BugWeek Web Team has no ranching experience, so we can’t attest to the truth of that explanation. But it sounds plausible, and hopefully it helps you realize that these beautiful creatures are not a menace, but a natural wonder we can all enjoy – from a safe distance, of course. You can read more about velvet ants in this “Featured Creatures” document from the UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology. ‌

Question: What type of insect is a velvet ant?
Answer: Wasp