Orange-rumped velvet ant

Open fields, pastures, and sandy areas primarily in eastern North America.

Adults feed on nectar, while larvae are external parasites of other ground-nesting bees and wasps.

The wingless females, like the one pictured, are known for their extremely painful sting and tough exoskeleton. They are solitary and active during the day.

The sting is exceptionally painful, earning them the nickname 'cow killer,' though they are generally not aggressive unless handled. They help control the populations of ground-nesting bees and wasps.