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


TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#29180
Cow Killer - Dasymutilla occidentalis - female

Cow Killer - Dasymutilla occidentalis - Female
Erwin Road, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
July 15, 2005
Size: 18 mm
Found running rapidly next to Roger Rittmaster's garage door. I was able to capture it, very carefully, in a jar, and brought it home for measurements and chilling. It had warmed up quite nicely when this photo was taken. The round bowl confused it, to some extent, and it would occasionally pause in its otherwise usual frenetic activity. Size measured by photographing adjacent to a scale.

According to the references in the guide page, D. occidentalis is the largest (up to 18 mm) Eastern Velvet Ant. The size and pattern are consistent with this species.

Images of this individual: tag all
Cow Killer - Dasymutilla occidentalis - female Cow Killer - Dasymutilla occidentalis - female

cool bug
i got the luxury of spotting this cool looking wasp this morning when walking the dogs ive never seen anything so vibrant in color in georgia. at first i thought it was an ant but i went on this website and found out the info. i didnt know there were wingless wasp

Wow
Great find and great shots.

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