What kind of ant is this: It was pretty large from what I normally see. Its body was black and had a white marking on it somewhat of a dot shpae. The end part, was larger than the body and was red. The legs were longer than what I normally see thus the little guy sat higher off the ground. I saw two of them and I live in the Houston area of Texas. I asked my parents and neither they nor I have ever seen such an ant before. So What kind of ant is it and should I be alarmed?
2007-03-20 05:59:54 · 3 answers · asked by sarahjkh04 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Common Name: Red velvet ant or "cow killer"
Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)
Order: Hymenoptera
Description: These insects are wasps, not ants. Females are wingless and covered with dense hair, superficially resembling ants. The red velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in length. They are black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on the thorax and abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not sting.
See a picture and full description on the kink here.
2007-03-20 07:25:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a cow ant, but thats a common name for them here in Arkansas. I think they're called Cow killers or Velvet ants. Something like that. And no, you shouldn't be alarmed. Just wary. If they bite you, you'll know it. That's all I can say.
2007-03-20 13:49:07 · answer #2 · answered by Hans 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doesnet sound like anything serious id check with a local science place or something
2007-03-20 13:57:31 · answer #3 · answered by King Werewolf 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋