Tag Archives: cow-killer ant

What Bug is This?

My neighbor came to borrow my drill and on the way back out to let him out of my gate, I chanced upon this insect. It was a very fast mover, but I was able to get one decent shot. Does anyone know what insect it is? It is about 6/16ths of an inch long.

It reminds me of a cow-killer ant but it is much smaller and redder as opposed to the black and orange of the cow-killer ants (which are actually a variety of female wingless wasps) I’ve seen here on my property. It is probably a red velvet ant but has different markings, is brilliant red and much smaller than ones I’ve seen before. Click HERE to see a huge Cow-killer ant I saw a few years ago and to learn more about them..

Does Anyone Know What This Bug Is?

Does Anyone Know What This Bug Is?

IMG_8001

It is about an inch long and runs very fast.  I took 2 dozen pictures of it and this was the only one that wasn’t blurred!  I’ve never seen one before.  Looks like it should have wings, but it doesn’t.  The answer? It is called a Cow Killer Ant or a Velvet Ant but it is actually a variety of wasp whose female is wingless. It is called a Cow killer Ant because of the saying that its sting is so painful that it could kill a cow!