Detailed information on Velvet Ant, Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis)

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Mud_Pie

Sebring, FL | June 2022 | Neutral

I just saw one of these for the first time ever a couple days ago here in Sebring, Florida on the Lake Wales Ridge. I had just pruned some trees and was putting the limbs and Spanish moss into the fire ring when i noticed it out of the corner of my eye running from the ring. It was wingless, which i learned was a female. And it was pretty fast. Very pretty colored but made me kinda nervous as it was pretty big for what i thought was an ant and thinking it could be poisonous.

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julsa

Nashville, TN | August 2020 | Neutral

Just saw one here in Nashville, Tn. I\'ve never seen one before and got the feeling it wouldn\'t be good if stepped on or messed with by my dog or cat. It was moving pretty fast so by the time I got my phone to take a pic, disappeared.

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Ghutch

Oak Ridge, TN | August 2017 | Neutral

My daughter and I just saw one of these in our yard. They look poisonous! We live outside Knoxville,Tn. We will wear shoes outside from now on!

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Lisa42Tn

Mount Juliet, TN (Zone 7a) | August 2014 | Neutral

Ive seen these "ants" in the yard a few years ago but had no idea that they have a needle like stinger until I googled "Cow Killer" a few days ago. On the 5th (Aug) I saw one in my flower bed so I ran inside and grabbed a camera. I squatted down a few feet away and tried to rest my elbows on the ground so I could get a good picture. I guess these insects have good eyesight or something because it ran in the other direction! I repositioned myself and waited for it to come back. It finally came back to the hole behind a plant but it was continually moving. A couple days later I went outside to try again. Again it was on the move. I decided to follow it and was surprised to see a second one. I used my shoe to try to direct one of them into an area that was free of grass so I could get a pictu... read more

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Freelancefotog

Easton, MD | July 2014 | Neutral

Saw this big guy crawling across cement patio and into the grass .. lost it while trying to get a photo.

Easton, Md
1750 hrs
July 28th, 2014

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beachesgirl

Chesapeake Beach, MD | July 2014 | Neutral

Just took this photo in Calvert County MD. The bug was about one inch long, red & black, fuzzy, and crawled very fast trying to get away from me.

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Frangel

Glen Carbon, IL (Zone 6a) | July 2013 | Neutral

Found one on road in front of my home in west central Illinois today, no wings. I stomped on it, it screeched a bit, seemed to shake it off and kept going. I captured it to get identification. Looks just like the pic. approx. 3/4 in. long. Because we have friends nearby with bee hives, will kill this tough critter.

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KariHoltz

Midland, VA (Zone 7a) | April 2011 | Negative

We have two that travel our property, we stay away from them. I was stung by one when I was much younger, it hurt very bad.

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tennflea

Grantville, GA | July 2010 | Neutral

I have seen 5 of these bugs in the past week. Three on Sunday while out in front of my house painting. They are bright red here in Grantville, Georgia. Scary to think they are in the grass. I will be afraid to wear flip flops in the yard from now on. And never go barefoot. Since we saw three in just a matter of a few minutes, does that mean we have a nest in the front garden or something??

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iluvcountry

Smyrna, DE (Zone 7a) | July 2010 | Neutral

I saw one in Smyrna, DE today 7/13/10. It was a female and it scurried through the grass over the sidewalk and into the garden.

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paintchix

Carthage, MO | August 2009 | Neutral

I have seen 2 of these in the past month and had no idea what they were. I didn't want to kill them if they were beneficial, but the screaming orange & black color in this insect family makes me suspicious of their behavior. I do have many bumblebees - they have been my biggest pollinators by far - so will kill these the next time I see them to prevent the destruction of the bumblebees.

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sempai

Crystal River, FL | August 2009 | Neutral

Cow Killers are very painful. The odd thing is they ARE called cow killers. The name comes from when cow steps on the ant it will sting the soft part of the cows hoof. This will cause swelling.

I believe my room mate just got bit by one. Fire ants make him swell so the reaction could have been amplified but his whole arm swelled up. But these things have to be stepped on on a rock for you to kill them. Usually they are not much of a problem. Like said before you usually only get one at a time.

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spirits1958

Dover, DE | August 2009 | Neutral

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JFarmer

Colonial Heights, VA | August 2009 | Positive

August 21, 2009
My son and I saw for the first time ever today, the Red Velvet Ant. It was about an inch in size and crawled from the driveway into the grass. It was bright red with some black stripes. We were tempted to pick it up but didn't. I had to check it out to find out the type of insect that it is. My son guessed that it was related to a wasp but this was the female without any wings.

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dixiegril

Jesup, GA | August 2009 | Neutral

I dont know if any of you already know this if, you pin a cow killer ant down,preferably with a stick, it will make a sort of screaming sound. They are tough and this wont cause any harm to the ant. Use caution if you try this.

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abdelnur99

Augusta, GA | July 2009 | Neutral

We just found one of these in our backyard and checked on the Georgia . of Agriculture website. It is apparently a female (no wings) wasp, with the common name of velvet ant because of its appearance. It is, according to the website, a solitary insect that has no nest per se, but can put its larvae in a parasitic capacity into the nest of bumblebees. The worst, though, for those of us with small children, is that the other nickname "cow killer" is in relation to the power of its sting. The stinger is hidden in its abdomen and is apparently wicked, although the pincers in the front do not look to great either.

The site said they were solitary, non-aggressive critters, but I am putting shoes on the kids just in case...

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tonsse

Bryan, TX | July 2009 | Neutral

This is the first time I've ever seen one of these insects. I was really curious as to whether or not these pose a threat to my toddlers. I have two toddlers that are three and one and a half years. I am not into spraying for bugs unless absolutely necessary because I believe that all insects and wildlife serve a purpose of some kind whether we understand it or not. I read that they can sting and it's supposedly really painful, but does anyone know how aggressive they really are? The one I came near seemed more timid and anxious to get as far away from me as possible, as fast as possible. Is this how they all behave or should I be worried for my children's sake?

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jrgray

Emerson, GA | August 2008 | Neutral

I had never seen this insect before today. I saw two of these on opposite ends of my property (about 0.2 mi) today. They are tough little critters.

Velvet Ant, Cow Killer

Dasymutilla occidentalis

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