What is this?

[aquaponicpaw]

first time in my life seeing something like this. Has the anatomy of an Ant. I wish I could have caught it. I ran inside to get a jar and when I returned it was MIA.
What is it?[video=youtube_share;22EMB0g9Kog]http://youtu.be/22EMB0g9Kog[/video]

 

[BOTR]

Government drone.

 

[MaddMaxx]

^I've only seen one once by me. Its some sort of wingless wasp, I forget the name. Apparently has an EXTREMELY painful venomous sting... be glad you didn't catch it.

 

[Oddball]

It's called a red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) and MM is right, ...it's really a wingless wasp. These wasps reportedly have a really nasty painful sting leading to their other common name; cowkiller ant.

 

[aquaponicpaw]

^I've only seen one once by me. Its some sort of wingless wasp, I forget the name. Apparently has an EXTREMELY painful venomous sting... be glad you didn't catch it.

thanks, Is Your pic from the states? do they live underground? do they at one point have wings?

It's called a red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) and MM is right, ...it' really a wingless wasp. These wasps reportedly have a really nasty painful sting leading to their other common name; cowkiller ant.

Thanks! I thought of You when I recorded this. Do they colonize like Ants or are they solitary.

 

[Aquanero]

Here's the scoop on these things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutillidae

 

[Oddball]

They're solitary female wasps scour the area for other wasp and bumblebee burrows. They lay single eggs on the adult bees/wasps. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on their hosts then occupy their burrows once the host is killed. Males are similar in size but, sport black wings. They exhibit stinging behavior but, have no stinger or venom sacs.
The red velvet is not aggressive towards humans. If their warning colors aren't enough to keep you away, the females will produce a chirping sound as an additional warning. If handled or they feel cornered, they will sting.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

It's called a red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) and MM is right, ...it's really a wingless wasp. These wasps reportedly have a really nasty painful sting leading to their other common name; cowkiller ant.

Here's the scoop on these things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutillidae

the wiki page only referenced which sex can sting. can a single sting really take down a cattle?

 

[Greg31]

I thought it was a cow killer ant. I think it is called. I have only seen a handful here in MD my entire life.

 

[aquaponicpaw]

the wiki page only referenced which sex can sting. can a single sting really take down a cattle?

Lol! that was my next question, because if it can, I stand No chance. I might as well hide my children, Maybe hide my wife.