The "Fuzzy Red Ant" is Actually a Wasp (Do Not Touch)
Found a fuzzy red ant in the yard? Don't touch it. It's a Velvet Ant (Cow Killer Wasp). Learn why their sting is legendary and how to avoid them.
You are walking in the yard and spot a bright red, fuzzy bug scuttling across the grass. It looks like a plush toy. It looks like a giant ant.
It is neither.
That is a Velvet Ant. And its nickname is the "Cow Killer."
It's a Wasp Without Wings
Technically, it is a female wasp. She doesn't have wings, so she runs around looking for bumblebee nests to invade.
The Sting
I have been stung by almost everything. Bees, fire ants, scorpions.
The Velvet Ant is in my top 3. It has a stinger almost as long as its body. The pain is instant and throbbing. It won't actually kill a cow (that's a myth), but if you step on one barefoot, you will wish you were dead for about 30 minutes.
Hard as a Rock
Here is the crazy part: You can't squash them. Their exoskeleton is incredibly hard. I've seen people stomp on them, and the bug just walks away unharmed.
What to do?
Just avoid them. They aren't aggressive. They usually squeak (stridulate) if you get close to warn you. If you have kids playing in the grass, tell them: "If it's red and fuzzy, run away."