Velvet Ant

Velvet ants are actually wingless wasps that look like ants. They are usually red, black, or a combination of both colors. The velvety appearance of the wasp comes from their thick red and black body hairs. The females are wingless and can inflict a powerful, nasty sting. When captured they make a high pitched squeak. Velvet ants parasitize bee and wasp nests. They lay eggs in the cells of the host and then the velvet ant larvae kill and eat the host bee pupa. Males, who cannot sting, are winged and rarely seen. Humans are usually only bothered by velvet ants when stung by them. While not common, female velvet ants can be seen crawling through yards and entering buildings where they can come into contact with humans. Being a solitary insect, the velvet ant will not sting unless it is bothered.

Information from Kaweah Oaks Preserve

Red Velvet Ant
Photo by Bart Drees, used with permission, from Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University

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