Velvet Ant (specifically a Red-tailed or Cow-Killer variant)
Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis (and related species)
Order & Family: Hymenoptera: Mutillidae
Size: 10 mm to 20 mm (approx. 0.4 to 0.8 inches)
Natural Habitat
Open sunny areas, sandy soils, grasslands, and forest edges where ground-nesting bees and wasps are present.
Diet & Feeding
Adults primarily feed on nectar; larvae are external parasites of the pupae of other ground-nesting bees and wasps.
Behavior Patterns
They are actually wingless female wasps. They are solitary, highly active during the day, and known for their extremely tough exoskeleton and ability to make a squeaking sound when threatened.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They help control populations of other ground-nesting insects. Risks: Females possess an exceptionally painful sting (hence the nickname 'Cow-Killer'), though they are not aggressive and only sting if handled or stepped on.
Identified on: 3/12/2026