White Velvet Ant / Wingless Wasp

Dasymutilla gloriosa

Description:

Imagine how surprised I was when I saw this White Velvet Ant, I didn't know at the time that it is a female wingless wasp. They are also called Cow Killers because they have a very powerful sting. 15 mm long.

Habitat:

Semi Desert in some bushes.

1 Species ID Suggestions

CindyBinghamKeiser 9 years ago

Thistledown Velvet Ant

Dasymutilla gloriosa Species Dasymutilla gloriosa - Thistledown Velvet Ant - BugGuide.Net

58 Comments (1–25)

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you Mark Ridway

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you Ashley, alfytere and Toshimi for your kind words.

ToshimiDowaki 9 years ago

Great SOTD, Luis! Congratulations!

Tere R 9 years ago

Wonderful picture, congratulations Luis!!

Mark Ridgway 9 years ago

Excellent series Luis. Congrats.

AshleyT 9 years ago

Congrats Luis! Such a neat little critter

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you Sckel and Gilma

Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman 9 years ago

I saw a few White Velvet Ant spottings but yours was amazing!! Congratulations on the SOTD, LuisStevens.

Sckel 9 years ago

Congratulations, Luis. Beautiful!

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you Rick Lampman, Maria d B, vivianpoma, Jolly Ibanez, Yuko Chartraw, sofiar1, Carol Snow and Noel Buensuceso for your kind words.

Noel Buensuceso 9 years ago

Great series! Congratulations, Luis!

Carol Snow Milne 9 years ago

Congratulations! Awesome find!

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you surekha, Lisa Powers, Jill Black, Rieko, Sergio Monteiro, Jason Alexander, Adarsha, Ramya, Nuwan Chathuranga, and Scott Frazier for their kind words.

LuisStevens 9 years ago

Thank you EnvUnlimited, beaker98, Pradeep Kumar, Leana Lahom-Cristobal, Reza Hashemizadeh, LaurenZarate, Jemma, Mona, SatyenM and Atul for their kind words.