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Red Velvet Ant A velvet ant (this one is a wingless female) on the end of the railing of a ramp past the historic pumphouse at Lake Apopka restoration area. I was happy to finally see one in a place that was good for a photo! Most of the time they hang out in the grass. Dasymutilla occidentalis,Geotagged,United States,lake apopka,velvet ant Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Red Velvet Ant

A velvet ant (this one is a wingless female) on the end of the railing of a ramp past the historic pumphouse at Lake Apopka restoration area. I was happy to finally see one in a place that was good for a photo! Most of the time they hang out in the grass.

    comments (4)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    This is so cool. I was about to say this is the brightest ant I've ever seen, but it really is a wasp, right? Posted 10 years ago
  2. View Meryl Green's profile
    Meryl Green
    Grizzly Bear
    View Grizzly Bear class
    Yeah, it's a kind of wasp. But it's a pretty bright wasp! They're also sometimes called cow-killers because supposedly the pain of their sting could kill a cow, but I understand their venom isn't much different from other wasps. (Of course, wasps stings can really hurt . . . ) Posted 10 years ago
  3. View Claire Hamilton's profile
    Claire Hamilton
    Lion
    View Lion class
    That is really stunning, I love it! Posted 10 years ago
  4. View Sunil R Agadi's profile
    Sunil R Agadi
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Colorful. :) Posted 10 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 Meryl Green
View Meryl Green's profile

By Meryl Green

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jan 15, 2015. Captured Sep 13, 2014 12:40 in Lake Apopka Loop Trail, Apopka, FL 32712, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS REBEL T3
  • f/8.0
  • 1/1000s
  • ISO200
  • 250mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.