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|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Eastern Cicada Killer
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Eastern Cicada Killer
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| [[File:Cicada-killer.jpg | [https://www.flapest.com/pest-info/bees-wasps-and-hornets/cicada-killer-wasp/]]]
| [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg | [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]
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!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
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!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
|style="min-width:6em; |Crabronidae
|style="min-width:6em; |Mutillidae
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!style="min-width:6em; |Genus:
!style="min-width:6em; |Genus:
|style="min-width:6em; |Sphecius
|style="min-width:6em; |Dasymutilla
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!style="min-width:6em; |Species:
!style="min-width:6em; |Species:
|style="min-width:6em; |Sphecius Speciosus
|style="min-width:6em; |Dasymutilla occidentalis
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== Description ==
== Description ==
The Eastern Cicada Killer (Specius speciosus) is a large solitary digger wasp belonging to the crabronidae family. They are one of the largest wasp species in North America. Adults can be 1.5cm to 5cm long, with females tending to be larger than the males<ref name= "Coelho">Coelho, J.R. 1998. “(PDF) An Acoustical and Physiological Analysis of Buzzing in Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius Speciosus ).” ResearchGate, July. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050297.</ref>. Their thoraxes are reddish-brown and black with tiny, rust colored hairs. The abdomen is banded yellow and black, giving them similar appearances to yellowjackets and other wasps. The wings are large, brown colored and translucent. Their eyes are quite large, with a reddish brown color. [[Eastern Cicada Killer]] have 6 legs that can range from yellow to red. Both female and male abdomens end in a tip, giving the appearance of a stinger, but only females actually have the ability to produce a sting.


[[File:Cicada Killer Wasp MF.jpg|frame|center | Male vs Female Eastern Cicada Killer]]
 
Red Velvet Ants belong to the Mutillidae family, which includes over 7,000 different species of velvet ants. Despite their name and appearance, Red Velvet Ants are actually a species of wasp. Like most wasps, they are solitary and do not form large hives. These wasps get their name from the short, red and black velvety hairs covering their bodies<ref name= "[[Arthropod]] Museum">“Arthropod Museum, Dept. of Entomology, University of Arkansas,” May 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120526173101/http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/cowkil.html.</ref>. In addition to their aposematic coloration, females can produce a squeaking sound to deter predators. Red Velvet Ants are the largest of the velvet ant species, measuring about ¾ of an inch in length. Females are wingless, while males have dark, translucent wings. The females’ wingless appearance and their ground-dwelling behavior are why these insects are often mistaken for ants. Females also possess a powerful stinger, while males do not. These wasps are commonly known as “cow killers” due to the strength and pain of their sting.
[[File:Velvet-Ant-Adult-Female.jpg|frame|left|[https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-parasitoids/velvet-ant/ Female Red Velvet Ant<ref name= "Velvet Ant.">“Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-parasitoids/velvet-ant/.</ref>]]]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






== Habitat and Range ==
== Habitat and Range ==
Red Velvet Ants are native to North America, with their primary range in the eastern United States. In the north, they are found from Connecticut to Missouri, while in the south, their range extends from Florida to Texas<ref name= "iNaturalist">iNaturalist. “Red Velvet Ant (GTM Research Reserve Arthropod Guide) · iNaturalist.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/278784.</ref>. They are often found in areas with dry, [[sand|sandy]] [[Soil|soils]] that receive a lot of sunlight<ref name= "Cow Killer">“Red Velvet Ant or ‘Cow Killer,’” September 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110902230354/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg344.html.</ref><ref name= "Missouri Department">Missouri Department of Conservation. “Velvet Ants.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/velvet-ants.</ref>. Red Velvet Ants are parasitic and rely on host species for reproduction. Because of this, they tend to be found in areas where ground-nesting [[hymenoptera]] are found<ref name= "Missouri Department">Missouri Department of Conservation. “Velvet Ants.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/velvet-ants.</ref>.
[[File:Red velvet Ant Range.png|frame|center|wrap| [https://bugguide.net/node/view/13126/data US Range of Red Velvet Ants<ref name= "Dasymutilla Occidentalis">“Species Dasymutilla Occidentalis - Common Eastern Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/13126/data.</ref>]]]
== Behavior and Life Cycle ==
[[File:Cow-killer.jpg | thumb|right | [https://arthropod.uark.edu/red-velvet-ant-cow-killer/ "Cow Killer" Red Velvet Ant<ref name= "Red Velvet">“Red Velvet Ant; Cow Killer | Arthropod Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://arthropod.uark.edu/red-velvet-ant-cow-killer/.</ref>]]]
Red Velvet Ants are solitary and do not form eusocial hives like hornets. They are diurnal, resting at night, and are generally non-aggressive, avoiding interaction with other species outside of their reproductive cycle. Adults feed on nectar from plants, while their young are strictly parasitic. The only time Red Velvet Ants interact with one another is to mate <ref name= "Smith">Smith, Caleb. “Dasymutilla Occidentalis.” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasymutilla_occidentalis/.</ref>.
Reproduction begins in the warmer months of the year. Females are often seen scurrying across open fields, while males fly overhead in search of mates. Males locate females using pheromones or by hearing their characteristic squeaking sounds. Once a male finds a female, he picks her up with his mandibles and flies away. Mating typically occurs in a shaded area, away from other competing males. After mating, the female searches for suitable host nests in which to lay her eggs.
Red Velvet Ants parasitize a variety of ground-nesting bees and wasps. Their most common hosts include wasps from the Crabronidae family, such as Eastern Cicada Killers and Horse Guard Wasps. Once a suitable nest is found, the female lays a single egg in one of the nest’s chambers and then departs. It is believed that Red Velvet Ants mate only once in their lifetime <ref name= "Smith">Smith, Caleb. “Dasymutilla Occidentalis.” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasymutilla_occidentalis/.</ref>.
Approximately three days after being laid, the egg hatches. The Red Velvet Ant larva then begins feeding on the host's larva or pupa. After consuming the host, it enters its own pupal stage, which typically lasts around 20 days. However, if environmental temperatures are too low, the pupa will remain in the nest chamber to overwinter. When ambient temperatures rise, the adult emerges and begins searching for mates. Most individuals emerge in July or August, though those that overwinter may emerge earlier in the spring<ref name= "Smith">Smith, Caleb. “Dasymutilla Occidentalis.” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasymutilla_occidentalis/.</ref>.
== Defenses ==
The Red Velvet Ant has several adaptations that serve as defenses against predators. Its most apparent defense is aposematic coloration—its bright red hairs contrasted with black markings make it a striking and easily recognizable insect. This warning coloration is especially significant in the context of North American Mutillidae (Velvet Ants), most of which participate in complex Müllerian mimicry rings.
Müllerian mimicry occurs when two or more well-defended species evolve to share similar warning signals, reinforcing avoidance behavior in predators. Velvet Ants in North America can be categorized into eight distinct mimicry rings, each corresponding to a geographic region <ref name= "Wilson">Wilson, Joseph S., Kevin A. Williams, Matthew L. Forister, Carol D. von Dohlen, and James P. Pitts. “Repeated Evolution in Overlapping Mimicry Rings among North American Velvet Ants.” Nature Communications 3, no. 1 (December 11, 2012): 1272. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2275.</ref>. For example, species in the eastern U.S., such as the Red Velvet Ant, typically exhibit fiery red and black coloration. In contrast, tropical Velvet Ants found in Central America tend to be black and yellow—mimicking the warning colors of bees and wasps. Desert-dwelling Velvet Ants are often pale or white in appearance, while populations in Texas may display coloration limited to the thorax. When researchers examined all 21 genera of Velvet Ants in North America, they found that only 15 out of 351 species did not fit into one of the eight mimicry rings<ref name= "Wilson">Wilson, Joseph S., Kevin A. Williams, Matthew L. Forister, Carol D. von Dohlen, and James P. Pitts. “Repeated Evolution in Overlapping Mimicry Rings among North American Velvet Ants.” Nature Communications 3, no. 1 (December 11, 2012): 1272. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2275.</ref>.  This widespread mimicry system allows species to benefit from shared predator learning in their respective habitats, increasing their survival.
Aside from coloration, the primary defense of female Red Velvet Ants is evasion; they typically flee when threatened. If cornered, they may produce audible squeaking sounds as a further deterrent <ref name= "Missouri Department">Missouri Department of Conservation. “Velvet Ants.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/velvet-ants.</ref>.  Their final line of defense is their modified ovipositor, which doubles as a powerful stinger. Although the venom of the Red Velvet Ant is approximately 25 times less toxic than that of a honeybee, its sting is notoriously painful, often lasting up to 30 minutes.While not dangerous to humans, the intensity of the pain has earned them the nickname "cow killers." However, Red Velvet Ants are unlikely to sting unless directly provoked, as their stinger is primarily used for egg-laying, and its use carries biological cost. In contrast, eusocial wasps and bees have disposable stingers and rely on a reproductive queen, which allows worker individuals to be more aggressive. Finally, Red Velvet Ants possess an exceptionally thick and durable exoskeleton, adding yet another layer of protection and making them difficult for predators to injure or consume.
    [[File:Dasymutilla-occidentalis-velvet-ant-stinger.jpeg | frame | left|[https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/velvet-ants-flamboyant-and-fuzzy-with-extreme-ppe.html Red Velvet Ant Stinger<ref name= "Flamboyant">“Velvet Ants: Flamboyant and Fuzzy with Extreme PPE | Natural History Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/velvet-ants-flamboyant-and-fuzzy-with-extreme-ppe.html.</ref> ]]]                              [[File:Velvet Ant Mullerian Mimicry.jpeg| frame | right|[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2275 North American Velvet Ant Mimicry Rings]]]


[[File:Eastern-Cicada_Killer-Range.png|frame|right| [https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data US Range of Eastern Cicada Killer]]]
Eastern Cicada Killers can be found all along eastern North America<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>. They prefer well-drained, loose, sandy soils on southward facing slopes to dig their burrows for nesting. These nests can be found in forests or grasslands and also in more urban settings like parks and gardens. The wasp prefers bare [[soil]] that typically is exposed to sunlight for their burrow placement. These burrows can be 25cm to 50cm deep and typically 1.5cm wide. The nests created inside can have multiple cells that act as nurseries, with females able to support up to 16 larvae in one nest<ref name= "Gibb">Gibb, Timothy. 2018. “Cicada Killers.” March 2018. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-254/E-254.html.</ref>.
[[File:Eastern Cicada Killer wasp nest.png | frame | center | [https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/tag/cicada-killer/ Cicada Killer Burrow]]]


== Behavior and Life Cycle ==
[[File:Cicada-killer-with-insect.jpg |1000px| thumb|right | [https://pamlico.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/cicada-killer-wasp/ Cicada caught by Eastern Cicada Killer]]]
The Eastern Cicada Killer are solitary, not forming large hives like bees or hornets. Males can be seen in groups, however this is due to them being highly terrotorial and fighting for space. Males will attempt to court any females in their terriotry, and if successful, the two will mate. After mating, the female will then begin to look for a spot to burrow for a nest. Multiple females can create and share a single burrow, while having their own cells within the nest. Cicada Killer adults do not actually eat [[cicadas]], as thier main food source is actually nectar from flowers. These wasps get their name due to their parasitic larval stage. After the nest is complete and ready for larva, the female will venture off to find a cicada. Once found, the females use their stinger to paralyze the cicada, then take it back to its burrow. Females are capable of cacthing and stinging cicadas in midair. This is a remarkable feat for these wasps, as cicadas are typically much larger then them. The live cicada is stored in one of the cells, where the female cicada killer will then lay an egg on its prey before closing the cell off. Female eggs have been noted to sometimes recieve two cicadas within their cells, as they're larger and require more energy<ref name= "Coelho/Joseph">Coelho, Joseph R. 1997. “Sexual Size Dimorphism and Flight Behavior in Cicada Killers, Sphecius Speciosus.” Oikos 79 (2): 371–75. https://doi.org/10.2307/3546021..</ref>.


These eggs will hatch in 2 to 3 days, in which the larvae will burrow into the still live cicada and begin to devour its internal organs. The cicada needs to be alive as long as possible due to the risk of spoiling being deadly to the larvae<ref name= "Holliday">Holliday. 2014. “Biology of Cicada Killer Wasps | Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Www Page at Lafayette College.” October 22, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141022032916/http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps/.</ref>. After they finish feeding, the larvae will then spin a cocoon to stay in. They stay in these cocoons over the winter, spending 10-12 months underground<ref name= "Gist">Gist, Kelson. n.d. “Sphecius Speciosus (Cicada Killer).” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sphecius_speciosus/.</ref>. Around mid-July, adults begin to emerge from these burrows. Males emerge first, in order to start the competition over territory and mating before females arrive<ref name= "Carlton">Carlton, Christopher E. 2024. “Sphecius Speciosus, Eastern Cicada Killer (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).” LSU AgCenter. February 16, 2024. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/madeleinestout/articles/page1685734764096.</ref>. Females tend to emerge a week or two later, when mating will also begin. Once a female is mated, she will not mate with another male, and will begin to find a place to burrow for a nest. Males tend to die shortly after mating, while females die after laying eggs<ref name= "Holliday">Holliday. 2014. “Biology of Cicada Killer Wasps | Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Www Page at Lafayette College.” October 22, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141022032916/http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps/.</ref>. Both adult populations tend to all be dead by mid-September, where their larvae will wait underground to repeat the process come July. This means that each year is a completely new generation of Eastern Cicada Killers.


Eastern Cicada Killers pose no threat to humans. Unlike eusocial [[hymenoptera]], Eastern Cicada Killers do not sting out of protection for their nests. Males tend to patrol their territory, and because of this, they tend to investigate any type of movement. This can be quite intimidating for a person as the Eastern Cicada Killer is quite large and loud, and will begin to hover around and maybe even land on them. This can be seen as aggressive behavior, however females tend to not sting unless handled roughly, and males possess no stinger at all.


== Ecological Role ==
Eastern Cicada Killers can play multiple roles within an ecosystem. Firstly they can act as a control on cicada population numbers within a forest. Cicadas can cause damage to deciduous forests when their populations grow too large, as female cicadas use these trees to lay their eggs. Eastern Cicada Killers rely solely on these cicadas for their natural life cycle, and their predation on them helps numbers stay from growing into a problem for the larger ecosystem. Eastern Cicada Killers also acts as pollinators, as they feed on the nectar of flowers and get pollen stuck to them. Eastern Cicada Killers are also a host species for the Red Velvet Ant (although it is a type of wasp)<ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>. The Red Velvet Ant will lay its eggs in an Eastern Cicada Killers nest cell. When the Cicada Killers begin to pupate, the Red Velvet Ant larvae then begins to feed on it.


    [[File:Cicada-killer-on-flower.jpg | frame | left|[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128505647 Eastern Cicada Killer on flower ]]][[File:Cicada Killer.jpg | frame |right | [https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004 Eastern Cicada Killer carrying cicada]]]                              [[File:Red Velvet Ant.jpg | frame | center | [https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/ Red Velvet Ant]]]


== References ==
== References ==
<ref name= "Carlton">Carlton, Christopher E. 2024. “Sphecius Speciosus, Eastern Cicada Killer (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).LSU AgCenter. February 16, 2024. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/madeleinestout/articles/page1685734764096.</ref>
<ref name= "[[Arthropod]] Museum">“Arthropod Museum, Dept. of Entomology, University of Arkansas,” May 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120526173101/http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/cowkil.html.</ref>
<ref name= "Coelho/Joseph">Coelho, Joseph R. 1997. “Sexual Size Dimorphism and Flight Behavior in Cicada Killers, Sphecius Speciosus.” Oikos 79 (2): 371–75. https://doi.org/10.2307/3546021..</ref>
<ref name= "Texas [[Insects]]">Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. “Red Velvet Ant or ‘Cow Killer.’” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/.</ref>
<ref name= "Coelho">Coelho, J.R. 1998. (PDF) An Acoustical and Physiological Analysis of Buzzing in Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius Speciosus ).” ResearchGate, July. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050297.</ref>
<ref name= "iNaturalist">iNaturalist. “Red Velvet Ant (GTM Research Reserve Arthropod Guide) · iNaturalist.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/278784.</ref>
<ref name= "MO DEC">Missouri Department of Conservation. n.d. “Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” Missouri Department of Conservation. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cicada-killer-wasp.</ref>
<ref name= "Missouri Department">Missouri Department of Conservation. “Velvet Ants.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/velvet-ants.</ref>
<ref name= "Gibb">Gibb, Timothy. 2018. “Cicada Killers.” March 2018. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-254/E-254.html.</ref>
<ref name= "Red Velvet">“Red Velvet Ant; Cow Killer | Arthropod Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://arthropod.uark.edu/red-velvet-ant-cow-killer/.</ref>
<ref name= "Gist">Gist, Kelson. n.d. “Sphecius Speciosus (Cicada Killer).” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sphecius_speciosus/.</ref>
<ref name= "Cow Killer">“Red Velvet Ant or ‘Cow Killer,’” September 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110902230354/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg344.html.</ref>
<ref name= "Holliday">Holliday. 2014. “Biology of Cicada Killer Wasps | Prof. Chuck Holliday’s Www Page at Lafayette College.” October 22, 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141022032916/http://sites.lafayette.edu/hollidac/research/biology-of-cicada-killer-wasps/.</ref>
<ref name= "Smith">Smith, Caleb. “Dasymutilla Occidentalis.” Animal [[Diversity]] Web. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasymutilla_occidentalis/.</ref>
<ref name= "Bug Guide">“Species Sphecius Speciosus - Eastern Cicada-Killer Wasp.” n.d. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/514/data..</ref>
<ref name= "Dasymutilla Occidentalis">“Species Dasymutilla Occidentalis - Common Eastern Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/13126/data.</ref>
<ref name= "Velvet Ant.">“Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-parasitoids/velvet-ant/.</ref>
<ref name= "Flamboyant">“Velvet Ants: Flamboyant and Fuzzy with Extreme PPE | Natural History Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/velvet-ants-flamboyant-and-fuzzy-with-extreme-ppe.html.</ref>
<ref name= "Wilson">Wilson, Joseph S., Kevin A. Williams, Matthew L. Forister, Carol D. von Dohlen, and James P. Pitts. “Repeated Evolution in Overlapping Mimicry Rings among North American Velvet Ants.” Nature Communications 3, no. 1 (December 11, 2012): 1272. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2275.</ref>

Latest revision as of 15:05, 2 May 2025

Eastern Cicada Killer
Red Velvet Ant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Mutillidae
Genus: Dasymutilla
Species: Dasymutilla occidentalis

Description

Red Velvet Ants belong to the Mutillidae family, which includes over 7,000 different species of velvet ants. Despite their name and appearance, Red Velvet Ants are actually a species of wasp. Like most wasps, they are solitary and do not form large hives. These wasps get their name from the short, red and black velvety hairs covering their bodies[1]. In addition to their aposematic coloration, females can produce a squeaking sound to deter predators. Red Velvet Ants are the largest of the velvet ant species, measuring about ¾ of an inch in length. Females are wingless, while males have dark, translucent wings. The females’ wingless appearance and their ground-dwelling behavior are why these insects are often mistaken for ants. Females also possess a powerful stinger, while males do not. These wasps are commonly known as “cow killers” due to the strength and pain of their sting.

Female Red Velvet Ant[2]






















Habitat and Range

Red Velvet Ants are native to North America, with their primary range in the eastern United States. In the north, they are found from Connecticut to Missouri, while in the south, their range extends from Florida to Texas[3]. They are often found in areas with dry, sandy soils that receive a lot of sunlight[4][5]. Red Velvet Ants are parasitic and rely on host species for reproduction. Because of this, they tend to be found in areas where ground-nesting hymenoptera are found[5].

US Range of Red Velvet Ants[6]

Behavior and Life Cycle

"Cow Killer" Red Velvet Ant[7]

Red Velvet Ants are solitary and do not form eusocial hives like hornets. They are diurnal, resting at night, and are generally non-aggressive, avoiding interaction with other species outside of their reproductive cycle. Adults feed on nectar from plants, while their young are strictly parasitic. The only time Red Velvet Ants interact with one another is to mate [8].

Reproduction begins in the warmer months of the year. Females are often seen scurrying across open fields, while males fly overhead in search of mates. Males locate females using pheromones or by hearing their characteristic squeaking sounds. Once a male finds a female, he picks her up with his mandibles and flies away. Mating typically occurs in a shaded area, away from other competing males. After mating, the female searches for suitable host nests in which to lay her eggs. Red Velvet Ants parasitize a variety of ground-nesting bees and wasps. Their most common hosts include wasps from the Crabronidae family, such as Eastern Cicada Killers and Horse Guard Wasps. Once a suitable nest is found, the female lays a single egg in one of the nest’s chambers and then departs. It is believed that Red Velvet Ants mate only once in their lifetime [8].

Approximately three days after being laid, the egg hatches. The Red Velvet Ant larva then begins feeding on the host's larva or pupa. After consuming the host, it enters its own pupal stage, which typically lasts around 20 days. However, if environmental temperatures are too low, the pupa will remain in the nest chamber to overwinter. When ambient temperatures rise, the adult emerges and begins searching for mates. Most individuals emerge in July or August, though those that overwinter may emerge earlier in the spring[8].

Defenses

The Red Velvet Ant has several adaptations that serve as defenses against predators. Its most apparent defense is aposematic coloration—its bright red hairs contrasted with black markings make it a striking and easily recognizable insect. This warning coloration is especially significant in the context of North American Mutillidae (Velvet Ants), most of which participate in complex Müllerian mimicry rings.

Müllerian mimicry occurs when two or more well-defended species evolve to share similar warning signals, reinforcing avoidance behavior in predators. Velvet Ants in North America can be categorized into eight distinct mimicry rings, each corresponding to a geographic region [9]. For example, species in the eastern U.S., such as the Red Velvet Ant, typically exhibit fiery red and black coloration. In contrast, tropical Velvet Ants found in Central America tend to be black and yellow—mimicking the warning colors of bees and wasps. Desert-dwelling Velvet Ants are often pale or white in appearance, while populations in Texas may display coloration limited to the thorax. When researchers examined all 21 genera of Velvet Ants in North America, they found that only 15 out of 351 species did not fit into one of the eight mimicry rings[9]. This widespread mimicry system allows species to benefit from shared predator learning in their respective habitats, increasing their survival.

Aside from coloration, the primary defense of female Red Velvet Ants is evasion; they typically flee when threatened. If cornered, they may produce audible squeaking sounds as a further deterrent [5]. Their final line of defense is their modified ovipositor, which doubles as a powerful stinger. Although the venom of the Red Velvet Ant is approximately 25 times less toxic than that of a honeybee, its sting is notoriously painful, often lasting up to 30 minutes.While not dangerous to humans, the intensity of the pain has earned them the nickname "cow killers." However, Red Velvet Ants are unlikely to sting unless directly provoked, as their stinger is primarily used for egg-laying, and its use carries biological cost. In contrast, eusocial wasps and bees have disposable stingers and rely on a reproductive queen, which allows worker individuals to be more aggressive. Finally, Red Velvet Ants possess an exceptionally thick and durable exoskeleton, adding yet another layer of protection and making them difficult for predators to injure or consume.


Red Velvet Ant Stinger[10]
North American Velvet Ant Mimicry Rings























References

[1] [11] [3] [5] [7] [4] [8] [6] [2] [10] [9]

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 “Arthropod Museum, Dept. of Entomology, University of Arkansas,” May 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120526173101/http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/cowkil.html.
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 “Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-parasitoids/velvet-ant/.
  3. Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 iNaturalist. “Red Velvet Ant (GTM Research Reserve Arthropod Guide) · iNaturalist.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/278784.
  4. Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 “Red Velvet Ant or ‘Cow Killer,’” September 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110902230354/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg344.html.
  5. Jump up to: 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Missouri Department of Conservation. “Velvet Ants.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/velvet-ants.
  6. Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 “Species Dasymutilla Occidentalis - Common Eastern Velvet Ant.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://bugguide.net/node/view/13126/data.
  7. Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 “Red Velvet Ant; Cow Killer | Arthropod Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://arthropod.uark.edu/red-velvet-ant-cow-killer/.
  8. Jump up to: 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Smith, Caleb. “Dasymutilla Occidentalis.” Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasymutilla_occidentalis/.
  9. Jump up to: 9.0 9.1 9.2 Wilson, Joseph S., Kevin A. Williams, Matthew L. Forister, Carol D. von Dohlen, and James P. Pitts. “Repeated Evolution in Overlapping Mimicry Rings among North American Velvet Ants.” Nature Communications 3, no. 1 (December 11, 2012): 1272. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2275.
  10. Jump up to: 10.0 10.1 “Velvet Ants: Flamboyant and Fuzzy with Extreme PPE | Natural History Museum.” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/velvet-ants-flamboyant-and-fuzzy-with-extreme-ppe.html.
  11. Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. “Red Velvet Ant or ‘Cow Killer.’” Accessed April 20, 2025. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/red-velvet-ant-or-cow-killer/.