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Red Velvet Ant a.k.a Cow Killer

Dasymutilla occidentalis

Photo by Shawniegal
Published on Project Noah
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30.4191, -86.681

Field Notes

Description:

The Eastern Velvet Ant is actually a wasp but often it is mistaken as an ant due to the wingless females. The male eastern velvet ant has wings and flies the female however does not fly but can inflict a painful sting when threatened. The Eastern Velvet Ant is the largest in the velvet ant family.

Habitat:

Native to Eastern United States from Connecticut to Missouri in the north and Florida to Texas in the south.

Reference Links:

Dasymutilla occidentalis from Wikipedia, Dasymutilla occidentalis

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PublishedAugust 23, 2014

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