Velvet Ant
Common Name: Velvet Ant Scientific Name: Dasymutilla sp.
Order: Hymenoptera
Range: This insect’s range is throughout the United States, southern Canada, and Mexico.
Diet: Feed on flower nectar
Reader Rail Information: Velvet ants are not ants, but wasps; they get their name from the hairs that cover their bodies. Sometimes called cow killers, these insects have a powerful sting that was believed to be toxic enough to kill a cow. These animals use warning coloration to protect themselves from predation and to warn others of their powerful sting. Velvet ants are most active in the early morning, feeding on nectar flowers then seeking shelter from the hot sun during the rest of the day.
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