Red Velvet Ant (also known as Cow Killer)
Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis
Order & Family: Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Mutillidae
Size: Up to 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in length
Natural Habitat
Open sunny areas such as fields, pastures, and sandy soil edges
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on nectar and water; larvae are parasites that feed on the larvae of ground-nesting bees and wasps
Behavior Patterns
Despite the name, it is actually a wingless female wasp. They are active during the day and are known for their extremely tough exoskeleton and erratic crawling movement.
Risks & Benefits
Benefit the ecosystem by controlling populations of other ground-nesting wasps. Risks include an extremely painful sting if handled or stepped on, though they are generally non-aggressive unless provoked.
Identified on: 6/1/2026