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Red Velvet Ant AKA Cow Killer Wasp
Dasymutilla occidentalis
32.5866, -92.1647
Field Notes
Description:
This is not an ant, but a wasp that bares resemblance of a gigantic ant with fur. The male has the ability to fly, but not to sting, whereas the female cannot fly but has a stinger, which she reveals when the female extends her torso, this also reveals more stripes. They primarily attack smaller burrowing insects to invade their nests and inserting their larvae into the other species' eggs.
It is called the cow killer because it's sting, while not fatal to man, is extremely painful.
Habitat:
This was the furtherest west account that I've found, which may not mean much considering I'm no Scientist, but the seem to like the warmer areas. I read it is found frequently in/around Georgia.
Notes:
There was either 2 females in my yard, and I may have seen one male, but either way, there was a female in my backyard, which I left alive, the next day I found a seemingly smaller Cow Killer female in my closed garage, which I left alive as well. I haven't seen anything since.
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