Velvet Ant. Image via Unsplash Despite its name, the velvet ant is actually a type of wasp. The females are wingless and covered in vibrant, dense hair. Known colloquially as the “cow killer” for the ...

Velvet Ant. Image via Unsplash Despite its name, the Velvet Ant is a type of wasp, known for its potent sting. Found in the deserts of the United States, its sting can cause temporary paralysis in its ...

If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical help. Eastern Velvet Ants Despite the name, the Eastern Velvet Ant is actually a wingless wasp, though these colorful insects look a lot like ants.

The video captures a female panda ant in perfect clarity, as it scurries over twigs, leaves, and rocks on the ground. If you didn’t know it was a wasp, you would probably mistake it for an ant.

Velvet ants are not actually ants. They belong to a family of more than 3,000 wasps found worldwide. Around 480 species have been reported from the United States.

Velvet ants are not actually ants. They belong to a family of more than 3,000 wasps found worldwide. Around 480 species have been reported from the United States.

Velvet ants are not actually ants. They belong to a family of more than 3,000 wasps found worldwide. Around 480 species have been reported from the United States.

And in velvet ants, the answer may be multi-fold. Female velvet ants are parasites of certain species of wasps and bees, seeking out their nests and laying eggs on the helpless pupae.

Velvet ants are in fact a family of wingless wasps with more than 7000 species. The researcher Justin Schmidt, who invented the Schmidt sting pain index, described their sting as “explosive and ...