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Photo#549357
Male Velvet Ant - Dasymutilla occidentalis - male

Male Velvet Ant - Dasymutilla occidentalis - Male
Coldspring, San Jacinto County, Texas, USA
July 14, 2011
Male Velvet Ant; black with red mark on back and tail. The males are abundant in our garden which borders a small woods where the ground is dry but heavily shaded with many trees. The males seem to fly out of the woods whenever we walk inside our garden. Sunshine seems to stimulate them as they're not so abundant in early morning before the sun rises. Females have been spotted nearby in our garage and out near the woods and inside our garden, but not as yet photographed. I did find a Cicada Killer Nest where I noted a female Velvet Ant nearby. I'll try to get a photo of one if possible.

Dasymutilla occidentalis
Thanks for posting a photo, Beno. This is definitely Dasymutilla occidentalis.

Moved from ID Request.

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