Red velvet ant (cow killer)

Open, sandy or well-drained ground, grasslands, woodland edges, and lawns across much of North America. Females are wingless and commonly roam on soil and leaf litter.

Adults consume nectar and possibly other plant liquids; males may also feed on honeydew. Larvae are parasitoids of ground-nesting bees and wasps, consuming developing brood.

The pictured individual is likely a female, recognizable by its wingless body and dense red-orange hairs. Females search actively for host nests and can produce a loud squeak when handled; males are winged.

Females have an exceptionally painful sting, but they are not aggressive and rarely sting unless restrained. They benefit ecosystems by regulating solitary bee and wasp populations and contributing modestly to pollination.