A huge (about ¾ of an inch) red and black ant made an appearance in my garden this week. I see them every year in late summer. As bugs go, they are pretty in their flashy velour coats as they twitch and scurry around. Their rapid movements give a hint to their true identity. Despite its resemblance, this is NOT a member of the ant family. Instead, it is a wasp, Dasymutila occidentalis. Females do not have wings, which strengthens the ant-like appearance. Both males and females can reach up to one inch in length. The female has a stinger up to ½ inch.
Its common names include Velvet Ant (due to its fuzzy-looking body) and Cow Killer. The latter arose from folklore saying that the sting is so powerful that it can kill cattle. This is an exaggeration, of course, but the sting is very much like a paper wasp. A big, angry paper wasp. Do not be tempted to mess with this character. It is not aggressive but will sting if threatened.
Velvet Ants do not live in colonies, preferring life as loners. They feed on the larvae of bees and wasps. Their small numbers mean they do not have much of a negative impact on good bee populations. Velvet Ants are tough customers, with flexible bodies that almost refuse to be squashed. They are not bothered by other insects, perhaps due to a nasty-smelling odor they emit as a deterrent. If injured (by your work boot, perhaps) they give off a high-pitched squeal. Their squeals will never exceed the volume of the one you produce if you step on one barefoot.
This amazing closeup photo was taken by Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and found on Bugwood.com ( https://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=0001025#collapseseven)