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Common Eastern Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) At a disturbed mixed forest edge. Dasymutilla occidentalis,Geotagged,Summer,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Common Eastern Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis)

At a disturbed mixed forest edge.

    comments (8)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
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    Ohhhh!!! LOVE it! Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Do NOT pet it. Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
        Flown Kimmerling
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        My entomology professor (the one who helped with some of your Colombia lep IDs) actually got himself stung by one on purpose--for science :D It is considered one of the most painful stings on the East Coast.

        He also let a botfly grow under his skin for a long time (until it was absolutely too painful). He is an interesting guy to say the very least!         Posted 4 years ago
        1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
          Ferdy Christant
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          Wow, sure is! Reminds me of that guy on Youtube who does similar things and made a top 10 of painful bites. I think velvet ants are high in that list. Posted 4 years ago
          1. View Patomarazul's profile
            Patomarazul
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            Is very pretty but I am not willing to volunteer for the bite! :-D Posted 4 years ago
            1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
              Ferdy Christant
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              Posted 4 years ago
        3. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
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          @Lisa, your professor is my hero. Having a bot fly grow under my skin is on my bucket list. I gave a presentation documenting the entire infection to my public speaking class in college. They were all horrified.

          @Ferdy, sorry to say that I would definitely consider touching this beastie, if I saw one. I would want to know just how painful the sting was. I have touched many things in the name of science and have been stung/bitten accordingly.           Posted 4 years ago
  3. View Paul Dirksen's profile
    Paul Dirksen
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    super find lisa, i envy you. Posted 4 years ago

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The Common Eastern Velvet Ant

''Dasymutilla occidentalis'', is a species of parasitoid wasp native to the eastern United States. It is commonly mistaken for a member of the true ant family, as the female is wingless. The species ranges from Connecticut to Missouri in the north and Florida to Texas in the south. Other common names include cow ant and cow killer.

Info 4 0
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
View Flown Kimmerling's profile

By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 17, 2020. Captured Aug 23, 2020 15:10 in 227 Oakman Rd NE, Oakman, GA 30732, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/32.0
  • 1/32s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.