Velvet ants- which aren’t really ants at all- are wingless wasps that parasitize ground-nesting bees. They are attractive insects, bearing bright colors and cute frizzy hair. But in case you are ever tempted to pick up one of those cuddly-looking little guys, let the photo above serve as a reminder about what lies at the tail end: an unusually long, flexible stinger. As you can see, the wasp is capable of swinging it back over her shoulder, with perfect aim, to zing the forceps. The venom is potent, and in some parts of the U.S. these insects are called “Cow-Killers”. As is always the case with solitary wasps, the sting is only deployed defensively. If you don’t bother the velvet ants, they won’t bother you.
When not attacking entomologists, the wasp in the top photo (a nocturnal species in the genus Sphaeropthalma) looks like this:
Thanks to Kevin Williams for the collection, the identification, and for holding the forceps.
And they tend to be constantly on the move … persuasive measures must usually be taken in order to photograph.
[...] For a picture of the velvet ant stinging over its own shoulder, check out this great post about velvet ants. [...]
But really, aren’t ants just “wingless wasps”, in the evolutionary sense?
I SAW ONE OF THESE COW KILLERS TODAY 27 JULY 2008 IN SANFORD, NC I WAS TEPTED TO PICK IT UP BUT NOW IM GLAD I DIDNT AFTER READING ALL THESE ARTICLES ON THESE BEASTS.
I SAW ONE OF THESE COW KILLERS TODAY 27 JULY 2008 IN SANFORD, NC I WAS TEMPTED TO PICK IT UP BUT NOW IM GLAD I DIDNT AFTER READING ALL THESE ARTICLES ON THESE BEASTS.
August 2 I have just found two of these “cow killer” ants in my yard this morning! They are huge and very scarey. Is the male usually close by and aggressive?
I saw one of these, but much redder, at Lake Gaston today, August 2, 2008. The color was amazing and it was close to 1/2″ long.
August 16, The wife and I have found cow killer, velvet ants in our yard. We live in Pamlico in Pamlico county. Took some research to find out what they are. Now we know not to touch them. We think we have bumble bee nests somewhere nearby.
My Fiance and I live in Rocky Mount and we were on our porch smoking, and we saw one of these walking across the porch. It scared me but he wanted to pick it up, im glas he didnt!
I found one on my classroom floor when I was trying to organize posters. I was on the carpet and all of the sudden it felt like my foot rolled over a prickly fern. I looked down and saw this one inch creature scurrying away from me. My pain turned from prickly, to tingly, to BURNING! It hurt but I don’t think it was comparable to killing a cow. However, it’s two days later and my foot is still burning and itchy.
I found one of these today (8/18/08) in my driveway (Jacksonville, NC)… totally freaked me out! I didn’t touch it cause it looked potentially dangerous but I tried stepping on it to kill it. That bug is tough! I stepped on her like 10 times and she wouldn’t die! I didn’t know what it was so I sprayed every kind of insect killer I had on her LOL
The males have wings and cannot sting. They are found more common in the hot summer months.
Cow killers are mean and hairy . They make us sick alot.I hate cowkillers
Man, These things freak me out, one day i picked one up with tweezers and it was like an inch and a half long…..i’m talking about the stinger OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!