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Red velvet ant, also commonly called cow ant, cow killer ant, or eastern velvet ant, is actually a species of parasitic wasps that belong to the family Mutillidae and is typically found in the eastern United States.
The eastern velvet ant is the largest of the velvet ant species in the eastern United States, attaining an approximate length of 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Adults display aposematic coloration, consisting of black overall coloring with an orange-red pattern on the dorsal surface of the thorax and abdomen.
Velvet ants (Mutillidae) are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their resemblance to an ant, and their dense pile of hair, which most often is bright scarlet or orange, but may also be black, white, silver, or gold.
Velvet Ant Facts Overview. The female body (mesasoma) is made up of two segments, with 6 legs, no wings, and a dense covering of hair. This hair is brightly colored, usually in shades of red, orange, yellow, black or white. The male velvet ant has three mesosomatic segments and large wings.
Female red velvet ants are slightly larger than males. Females have a stinger with a powerful venom but lack wings. Male red velvet ants have black translucent wings, they are mostly black with the same patches of red-orange as the female, and closely resemble wasps rather than ants like the females.
The red velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in length. They are black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on the thorax and abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not sting.
Red velvet ants are solitary and usually found only one at a time. To avoid these stinging ants, contact a pest management professional to safely remove any cow killer ants found in your home.
