What kind of "ant"???

[Richard]

What kind of \"ant\"???

Have seen maybe 3 times now after living here for 3 years...a red ant.

This thing looks to be maybe 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, is a VERY bright red color and has a shimmer/sheen about it that looks like velvet. It is actually a rather pretty ant (at least from my human perspective...other ants may find them quite unattractive) /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

I have seen these scurrying about now just 3 times and of course, never with camera at hand to photo.

As I recall, they also might have some black striping on them??

Any thoughts?
New species?
Man (or cat) eaters?

Richard

 

[RJohnson]

Re: What kind of \"ant\"???

Richard,
Might be what is called a velvet ant or cowkiller. They are actually a wasp. See if this link picture is what you are talking about http://www.pcsb.net/vtrail/velvetant.htm

Randy

 

[Richard]

Re: What kind of \"ant\"???

Yes Randy, that's exactly it. Thanks for the input.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: What kind of "ant"???

Don't know about those, we have all the other kinds, red, black, big ones that carry off furniture, little ones so tiny you can't even see unless you are laying on the ground.

Best ones, the bright <font color=blue>BLUE</font color=blue> ones.

Before any of you say "What the..."

At my old place we had a pile of fence boards from an old fence that were in OK cond when the fence was taken down. Was going to use a couple, found a massive nest of carpenter ants (BIG ONES). Didn't want them to spread out to buildings etc, had no spray, all I had was some semi dried up <font color=blue>BLUE</font color=blue> paint in a gallon can. Figured, what the heck, at least I'd immobilize them. Ant spray these days is so bad anyway you just about have to hit the ants over the head and hold them under a puddle until they drown.

Anyway, up to a YEAR later (I didn't even know ants lived past 1 season) we would still sometimes see a BRIGHT <font color=blue>BLUE</font color=blue> ant walking around. Quite a conversation piece if someone was over 'a visitin'...

"You evah say one a dem rare <font color=blue>BLUE</font color=blue> ants? Lookee hair"...

del