Eastern red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis)! Nope, it's not an ant, it's a type of parasitoid wasp. Males have wings; females are wingless. Despite their soft velvety appearance, their exoskeletons are incredibly strong, and they also pack a painful sting, which is why they're sometimes called "cow killers." Nope, they can't actually kill cows. Something they can kill is giant cicada killer wasps. You may have seen a cicada killer wasp flying paralyzed cicadas they've just stung into their

A sting to kill a cow? Red velvet ant, a.k.a. cow killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis — Bug of the Week