The sting of a red velvet ant is up there in “you won’t die, you just wish you could” territory. Dr. Justin Schmidt’s sting pain index ranks it at 3 out of 4, with 4 being the most painful.

On the Schmidt Sting Pain index, the red velvet ant’s sting ranks a 3 on a scale of 1 to 4 with 4 being most painful. For perspective, wasp and bee stings rank at a level of 2 on the Schmidt ...

So, the next time the mesmerizing bright red streak of a velvet ant catches your gaze, keep your distance, but have no fear, for this cow killer comes in peace.

Question: A very large orange striped ant walked through my daughter’s sand box. Is this something we should be worried about? Answer: As long as you just watch this insect you are fine. It is called ...

Cow killer ants (Dasymutilla occidentalis), also called red velvet ants and eastern velvet ants, are a species of velvet ant. Velvet ants are wasps, but named for their fuzzy, often wingless ...

The Cow Killer Ant is also known as Velvet Ant or Red Wasp. While called "ant," it is actually a wingless female wasp that can inflict a painful sting. The male wasp does have the advantage of flight.

This mutant wasp is intimidating in appearance. The NC State Extension explained it has an ant-like aura and a furry red-and-black coat. Even though the male velvet ants have wings, female velvet ...

At the foot of certain shrubs in the Mojave Desert, fluffy white motes skitter like tumbleweeds across the sand. Some are fruit: harmless, fuzzy orbs dropped by the creosote bush. Others are white … ...

Biosecurity New Zealand has today endeavoured to exterminate a Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) nest found at Whirinaki near Napier. “RIFA is a pest we know a lot about and have the tools to deal with.

The thistledown velvet ant, which is actually a wasp, resembles creosote fuzz. But mimicry isn’t the reason, a new study suggests. By Sabrina Imbler At the foot of certain shrubs in the Mojave ...