Cool And Amazing Things

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Mia Deschain

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2009
178
686
Missouri
The beautiful Red Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla Occidentalis)
They are wingless Wasps and not actually ants!
Be careful of their stinger it is very painful. This is a female the males have wings and look like wasps.
Image credit: Eric Gofreed

579254_701669103184210_1995915126_n.jpg

we seen quite a few of these around our house two years ago. at first we though they were weird fire ants so we didn't touch them. after researching them son made sure he killed any he came across.
 

MadamMack

M e m b e r
Apr 11, 2006
17,958
45,138
UnParked, UnParked U.S.A.
we seen quite a few of these around our house two years ago. at first we though they were weird fire ants so we didn't touch them. after researching them son made sure he killed any he came across.

I have never seen one and I'm glad I ran across that article. They are beautiful but it would freaked me out to see one and not know what they are.
 

Mia Deschain

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2009
178
686
Missouri
I have never seen one and I'm glad I ran across that article. They are beautiful but it would freaked me out to see one and not know what they are.
it does. My grandchildren were with us and my grandson is typical liking to play with bugs, trying to gross mom or grandma out, luckily we saw it first and since we were unsure of what it was exactly we wouldn't let him touch it.