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Red velvet ant or "cow killer"

Dasymutilla occidentalis

Habitat:

Found him while on a walk; he was wandering, solitarily, in a clover patch.

1 Species ID Suggestions

Jellis
Jellis 11 years ago
Red velvet ant or "cow killer"
Dasymutilla occidentalis Red velvet ant or "cow killer"


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3 Comments

ThaddeusFears
ThaddeusFears 11 years ago

Thanks! This is the first time I've ever seen something like her. I'm so glad I didn't let my 7 year old pick it up like he wanted; looks vicious!

LisaPowers
LisaPowers 11 years ago

Actually, that would be a 'her', not a 'him.' Nice spotting!

ForestDragon
ForestDragon 11 years ago

"He" is actually a she. This is a wingless female wasp. I agree with Jellis's ID suggestion. Here is another resource:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/13126

ThaddeusFears
Spotted by
ThaddeusFears

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Spotted on Jul 12, 2012
Submitted on Jul 12, 2012

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