| Scientific name | Dasymutilla occidentalis |
|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps |
| Size | 15–25 mm (up to about 0.98 in) |
| Colors | Red and Black |
| Legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | No (as usually seen) |
| Where found | Lawn or grass and Yard or patio |
| Most active | Summer |
| Bites | No |
| Stings | Yes |
| Risk level | Can bite or sting |
How to identify it
The velvet ant is a medium-sized member of the bees & wasps group. Two pairs of wings and, in females, a stinger at the tip of the abdomen. Check for these three features:
- Dense, bright red or orange fuzz with black bands
- Wingless females that run quickly over sand
- Squeaks when handled
About this bug
Not an ant at all but a wingless female wasp covered in bright red, velvety hair. It runs across sandy ground in summer and lays eggs in the nests of ground-nesting bees.
You'll usually find velvet ants in lawns and grass and in yards and on patios. They are most active in summer.
Is it dangerous?
Its sting is famously painful, earning it the name cow killer, but it is not deadly and it isn't aggressive.
Our rating: Can bite or sting, meaning it can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects.
When you'll see velvet ants
Velvet Ants are most active in summer. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.
Typical places to check: lawn or grass and yard or patio.
About bees & wasps
The velvet ant is one of the bees & wasps. Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Social wasp colonies grow all summer and are largest and most defensive in late summer and early fall. Most colonies die off in winter, leaving only new queens to start over in spring.
Should you get rid of it?
No control is needed. Velvet Ants are not pests, and many help by eating other insects or pollinating plants. If one is indoors, move it outside with a cup and a sheet of paper.
Bugs that look similar
Group: Velvet Ant belongs to bees & wasps, while red imported fire ant belongs to ants. Two pairs of wings and, in females, a stinger at the tip of the abdomen.
Frequently asked questions
What does a velvet ant look like?
Dense, bright red or orange fuzz with black bands. Adults measure 15–25 mm (up to about 0.98 in).
Does the velvet ant bite or sting?
It does not bite. It can sting. Its sting is famously painful, earning it the name cow killer, but it is not deadly and it isn't aggressive.
Where do velvet ants live?
Velvet Ants live in lawns and grass and in yards and on patios.
When are velvet ants most active?
Mostly in summer.