the velvet cow killer ant can be found in europe, and mainly in the uk.
the velvet cow killer ant can be found in europe, and mainly in the uk.
where can the velvet cow killer ant be found?
europe, and mainly in the uk
dasymutilla occidentalis









































dasymutilla occidentalis (red velvet ant or eastern velvet ant), is a species of parasitoid wasp native to the eastern united states. it is commonly mistaken for a member of the true ant family, as the female is wingless. the species ranges from connecticut to missouri in the north and florida to texas in the south. other common names include cow ant and cow killer.
dasymutilla occidentalis
the venom that velvet ants inject through their stinger has an unknown composition. it outscored 58 species of wasps and bees in the painfulness of its sting. the only species with a more painful sting are the "paraponera clavata" (bullet ant), "synoeca septentrionalis" (warrior wasp) and "pepsis" spp. and "hemipepsis" spp. (tarantula hawk). this evidence supporting the pain associated with the sting of the velvet ant explains the common name cow killer. during the lizard trials of the gall et al. experiment, only two lizards (one whiptail and one side-blotched lizard) attacked a velvet ant it was exposed to. in both cases the velvet ants were exhibiting rapid lateral and vertical movements to prevent an attack. once the attack occurred the velvet ants would immediately sting the lizards. this sting resulted in the dropping of the ants in both cases and avoidance for the remainder of the trial. the side-blotched lizard was found dead in its tank 24 hours later. the side-blotched lizard is a natural predator to the velvet ant, while the whiptail is not.
mutillidae