Red Velvet Ant or "Cow Killer" Yeooww!!

[Dargo]

Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

Since a rather unpleasant encounter of such beast, I thought I'd post a pic so if you see one, and you can make sure that you stomp the thing and make sure it doesn't get you, your pet, or your family.

This insect is incredibly tough and takes a hard stomp with a hard soled shoe on hard ground to kill. Just before I left on a business trip earlier this week, the real "Dargo" and my wife had a most unpleasant encounter with the Red Velvet Ant, or Cow Killer. The sting was painful enough to set a full grown German Shepherd Dog into a yelping frenzy, and to put my wife in so much pain that she stated that it felt like someone had cut her finger off.

If you run across one of these, I'd try to eliminate them if possible. From what I've been able to read, they are certainly one bad bug! They crawl into ground bee hives and lay their eggs on the larva. They are unafraid of the ground bees because their shell is so strong that they are not harmed by any sting! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The articles say that this bug does no harm and that there is no good chemical way to eliminate them. "No harm"?! Whoever wrote that has never been stung by one!

I just thought I'd post this so you know what it is if you see it, and avoid it or stomp it with a good hard shoe or boot. You will never kill one by stomping on it with bare feet, and you will certainly regret the attempt!! These things are fairly large and unmistakable. Watch out for them.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

We call them Cow Ants down here. I saw one yesterday, it was fire engine red and in a hurry to get somewhere. I left it alone because I didn't want to get off the tractor. They always seem to travel alone. Can't recall ever seeing more than one at a time. Never known anyone to get bit by one till now. I've heard its pretty painful. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[johnday]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

Brent; How big are these things? Do you know what thier range may be? I avoid bugs whenever I can, must be the girlyman side of me. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif How about popping them with a .22? It would at least be fun trying to. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hope Mrs. Daego is all right. Is there some sort of antivenin for some kind of medication? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Dargo]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Never known anyone to get bit by one till now. I've heard its pretty painful. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )</font>

Painful. Yes. From what I've read, they got the name of Cow Killer because their sting is so painful that urban legend has it that the sting of one can kill a cow! Even if it is only a legend, I think you get the idea about the pain inflicted by the sting of one.

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

This thing sounds like a handful!
Here's a little more info:

<font color="red">Red Velvet Ant or "Cow Killer"</font>

<font color="green">more info</font>

<font color="blue">More</font>

 

[Dargo]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

Thanks for the links. I love this quote from one of the links:

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Velvet ants are also known as cow killers or mule killers because of their extremely painful sting. Like all wasps, they can sting multiple times. Because of their armor-like exoskeleton and painful sting, few if any animals consume this conspicuous wasp.)</font>

That goes along with another site I saw that stated that they have "no natural preditors to fear" and that if you ever hear one squeaking, flee. Oh well, I think I've just become one of their natural preditors! The lovely Mrs. Dargo has given me very clear instructions that she rather strongly prefers to never be stung by one again.

 

[sassafraspete]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

Dargo.... I've never seen one of those critters around here, not to say they aren't around these parts. What is their range....eg you may just be on the northern fringe of their range if just now starting to see them....

pete

 

[Dozernut]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

We have them around here, they are quite common. Think of a Baldface Hornet without wings and you get an idea how mean these things are.

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( if you ever hear one squeaking, flee. Oh well, I think I've just become one of their natural preditors! )</font>

Dargo,
You know, if you just decide to add them to your diet, /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif you won't be able to find them anywhere! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Cowboyjg]

Re: Red Velvet Ant or \"Cow Killer\" Yeooww!!

Boy ..You just aren't having any luck. First it's human pests now it's the real thing. Do you suppose you can export these things to your other property as a defense against the ATV'ers and the like... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif