Velvet Ant, Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis)

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linthicum Linthicum Heights, MD(Zone 7a) Sep 25, 2006

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MargaretK PERTH, Australia Oct 04, 2009

Linth, why is it called a Cow Killer?

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linthicum Linthicum Heights, MD(Zone 7a) Oct 04, 2009

Margaret, it really is just a play on words ..... someone, somewhere said that the sting was so painful that it could kill a cow and the name has stuck. It is very painful !

I never saw them before until recently my son had a house built and the soil (mostly sand) was disturbed. Last year, at an outdoor party a small child was stung and she cried and cried. But to my knowledge they have never killed anyone or any animal. It is the female that stings.

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MargaretK PERTH, Australia Oct 04, 2009

Thanks Linth. It is very pretty.

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