Eastern red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis)! Nope, it's not an ant, it's a type of parasitoid wasp. Males have wings; females are wingless. Despite their soft velvety appearance, their exoskeletons are incredibly strong, and they also pack a painful sting, which is why they're sometimes called "cow killers." Nope, they can't actually kill cows. Something they can kill is giant cicada killer wasps. You may have seen a cicada killer wasp flying paralyzed cicadas they've just stung into their

A sting to kill a cow? Red velvet ant, a.k.a. cow killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis — Bug of the Week

The red velvet ant is a wingless female wasp, not an ant, known for its bright red and black coloration and a powerful sting. Also called the "cow killer," its sting is extremely painful but not fatal to humans or cows. These insects are solitary parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other ground-nesting insects. Identification and characteristics Appearance: Females are wingless, covered in dense, velvety hair, and have a bright red or orange-red color with black patches. Males are wing

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