4. VELVET ANTS
(Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Mutillidae)
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
Identification. Female velvet ants, wingless and antlike in appearance,
are actually wasps that only resemble ants. The males are winged and
usually larger than the females. Both male and female are covered with a
velvety pubescence which is normally bright red, orange, or yellow. The
female has a formidable stinger at the posterior end of her abdomen
which she can use to inflict a painful envenomization. The length of a
mature mutillid wasp varies from 1 to 2.5 cm (0.4-1 in). In some
localities, mutillids are commonly referred to as cow killers, mule
killers, or wooly ants.
Distribution. The Mutillidae is a large family with most species
distributed in the southern and western parts of the United States.[2]
However, one species, _Dasymutilla occidentalis_, is commonly found on
the sandy beaches of Lake Erie and during the summer months causes
barefoot bathers much distress.[5]
Biology/Behavior. Female velvet ants are solitary, diurnal, parasitic
wasps. An efficient stinging apparatus and an extremely thick
exoskeleton allow the female mutillid to conspicuously, yet safely, run
about in the open searching for a suitable place to lay her eggs. Most
cases of human envenomization occur when the female wasp is accidentally
touched while roaming about on the ground or is trapped against the body
in clothing or bedding.
Avoidance/Control. The solitary and roaming nature of velvet ants makes
it very difficult to predict or designate ways to avoid contacting them.
In areas like the beaches of Lake Erie where mutillids are known to
frequent, however, potential victims should be made aware of the velvet
ant hazard and how to avoid accidental envenomization. Since mutillids
are not gregarious and do not congregate in accessible places, chemical
control is not feasible.