The male red velvet ants have wings for flight while the wingless females do not, but males are not endowed with stingers, making the ground dwelling female the one to be most careful of. The venom, although painful, is about like the honey bees in intensity. With a sting so painful that it's said to be able to 'kill a cow,' this little creature deserves all of the respect that we can give it. These insects are also known as mule killer or cow killer ants due to the female ant’s sting, which has been said in urban legends to be strong enough to kill a cow. 1.2K Dislike Share Save Nature, Here and Now - Chris Egnoto 30.2K subscribers Check out this Eastern velvet ant Also called 'cow killers' these are not ants but wingless wasps. However, if disturbed (often by someone unknowingly sitting or stepping on them), the female red velvet ant can sting. Some emit a warning sound to alert potential victims of danger. Velvet ants are not aggressive and will try to escape when encountered, but females have a very painful sting if handled. In general, these creatures are solitary and non-aggressive, and will often scurry away if they detect you first. Female red velvet ants have no wings, which give them their ant like appearance male red velvet ants have black translucent wings. Males and females look distinctively different. Their red coat, which can also come in black, white, brown, or gold, serves as warning to predators. Like other stinging insects, only female Mutillidae are capable of stinging. While they can be found around the world, these “ants” are native to North America. The red velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4. Despite their name and good looks, the red velvet ants actually belong to the paper wasp family. Have you seen these brightly colored “ants” on campus? NIEHS employees have reported multiple sightings, and chances are you might have seen one as well. Always contact your local wasp exterminators for help with velvet ant wasps.A close-up of the wingless female red ant’s vibrant coat. Parents should educate their children to not handle them or touch them. If a sting does happen, there is the possibility of a severe allergic reaction occurring in some people that will require immediate medical attention. A sting generally only occurs if they are accidentally stepped on. Velvet Ant Behaviors, Threats or DangersĪlthough velvet ants are very docile and rarely come into contact with people, the female velvet ant has a very potent and toxic venom.
Although uncommon, velvet ants occasionally enter structures in search of prey. Adult velvet ants feed on nectar and water. Male velvet ants are often found on flowers. Females usually search for host nests on the ground, especially on bare, sandy soil. Consequently, there are no identifiable nests to treat.
A few species of velvet ants paralyze flies and beetles. Velvet ants are external parasites of bees and wasps, taking over their nests in the ground. They may be seen in lawns or pastures or wandering into buildings. The velvet ant is typically seen running around open areas, sometimes erratically, in late summer. Their bright colors are actually a signal warning predators to stay away – just like the bright colors of a wasp warn predators that it can sting.
For additional information, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent or search for other state Extension offices.
Males cannot sting and are harmless, but the females have an extremely painful sting, as suggested by the name “cow killer” given to some of the larger species. 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. They get their name due to the fuzzy velvet appearance of females, which are wingless and often brightly colored. Due to a painful sting, tough outer skeleton and foul-smelling chemical excretions, it appears that the velvet ant does not have any predators. Commonly referred to as the red velvet ant or cow killer ant, the velvet ant is actually a solitary wasp.
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