Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#1222760
Bald velvet ant? - Atta texana - male - female

Bald velvet ant? - Atta texana - Male Female
canyon lake, Comal County, Texas, USA
May 12, 2016
Size: .5-.75 inches
At first I thought these were a velvet ant, and they do still seem that way but this is one "burrow" of many that have multiple specimens in it. They range in sizes but share the same color and there are hundreds of them. I've never seen this particular wasp in all the years I've been here and hope someone can help!

Images of this individual: tag all
Bald velvet ant? - Atta texana - male - female Bald velvet ant? - Atta texana - male

Moved
Moved from Ants.

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Ants. Dr. Trager or one of the other experts will be able to tell you more. Thanks for posting--and welcome to BugGuide

 
A quick search of large bottom ants found these
Atta laevigata, is mostly an exact match to what I found here in south central texas, I still reserve that I've never seen this ant before, the sighting does come after significant rains this year and a severe wind storm. I can't find a map of the range for atta laevigata anywhere to verify it as a match but I'm 90% certain.

For reference
The hole is approximately 1.75 inches across.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.