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snooked · May 2, 2009, 8:25 PM

Best picture I could get, it was constantly darting around. Looked like a giant ant with bright orange hair?

Ed

penolta · May 2, 2009, 9:37 PM

I remember these Mutillids from my student days in Florida. The red color is meant as a warning. It is a female Velvet Ant (a wingless wasp with a really vicious sting) - males are winged, colored differently, and cannot sting. Trust me - you do not want to find out the hard way how badly they can sting - it is commonly known as a "cow killer" ("nuff said). :shock: It really doesn't kill, but its sting is said to be the most painful of any North American insect, so it just feels like it could!

Goldwinger · May 2, 2009, 9:43 PM

Still, a great shot Ed,

be careful...
GW:bye:

Rodney9 · May 2, 2009, 10:15 PM

Ouch! It looks dangerous, well taken.

nhmom · May 2, 2009, 10:48 PM

Okay. Well, we'll just let them stay in Florida! Sounds ugly.

Patty

snooked · May 3, 2009, 10:25 AM

penolta wrote:

Quote:

I remember these Mutillids from my student days in Florida. The red color is meant as a warning. It is a female Velvet Ant (a wingless wasp with a really vicious sting) - males are winged, colored differently, and cannot sting. Trust me - you do not want to find out the hard way how badly they can sting - it is commonly known as a "cow killer" ("nuff said). :shock: It really doesn't kill, but its sting is said to be the most painful of any North American insect, so it just feels like it could!

Thanks, somewhere in the deep recesses of my aging mind I remember reding about these. I do not remember seeing one live before.

Ed

bigdawg · May 3, 2009, 8:08 PM

Round here they are called Cow Ants. Very nasty sting. Ant's are really wingless wasps and sting not bite.

Dawg

mole · May 4, 2009, 6:11 AM

Fine shot of a velvet "ant." Another common name is the Cow Killer! They don't kill cows, but (having been stung by a few) I can tell you it feels like it would kill a cow! It's rare for them to sting, unless you annoy them - what do you suppose I was doing before I got stung! Anyway, a great shot with nice details!

May 2, 2009, 8:25 PM	#1
snooked Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,411	Best picture I could get, it was constantly darting around. Looked like a giant ant with bright orange hair? Ed Attached Images

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May 2, 2009, 9:37 PM	#2
penolta Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California USA Posts: 5,206	I remember these Mutillids from my student days in Florida. The red color is meant as a warning. It is a female Velvet Ant (a wingless wasp with a really vicious sting) - males are winged, colored differently, and cannot sting. Trust me - you do not want to find out the hard way how badly they can sting - it is commonly known as a "cow killer" ("nuff said). :shock: It really doesn't kill, but its sting is said to be the most painful of any North American insect, so it just feels like it could!

May 2, 2009, 9:43 PM	#3
Goldwinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Winter Haven, Florida Posts: 6,515	Still, a great shot Ed, be careful... GW:bye:

May 2, 2009, 10:15 PM	#4
Rodney9 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yeronga, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Posts: 3,518	Ouch! It looks dangerous, well taken.

May 2, 2009, 10:48 PM	#5
nhmom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern New Hampshire Posts: 5,202	Okay. Well, we'll just let them stay in Florida! Sounds ugly. Patty

May 3, 2009, 8:08 PM	#7
bigdawg Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thach Alabama Posts: 14,981	Round here they are called Cow Ants. Very nasty sting. Ant's are really wingless wasps and sting not bite. Dawg

May 4, 2009, 6:11 AM	#8
mole Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,522	Fine shot of a velvet "ant." Another common name is the Cow Killer! They don't kill cows, but (having been stung by a few) I can tell you it feels like it would kill a cow! It's rare for them to sting, unless you annoy them - what do you suppose I was doing before I got stung! Anyway, a great shot with nice details!