Cow Killer Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: Common Eastern Velvet Ant, Red Velvet Ant.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Hymenoptera   >   Family Mutillidae   >   Genus Dasymutilla   

Status:

This distinctive velvet ant is widespread in the eastern and central U.S. It is typically found in fields and along woodland edges.

Relationships:

Exploits the nests of ground-dwelling bumble bees. Female lays an egg in a bumble bee nest, and the larva kills and feeds upon the bumble bee larvae in the bees' brood chamber. Female's sting is extremely painful (i.e., "strong enough to kill a cow").

There are 67 records in the project database.

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A female Cow Killer recorded in Harford Co., Maryland (8/17/2017). Sounds were made as the individual crawled along the inside edge of a deep cardboard box. - Dave Webb.

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A Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/10/2014). Photo by Brandon Woo. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/11/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Harford Co., Maryland (8/9/2013). Photo by Barry Marsh. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/6/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A male Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/21/2021). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Kent Co., Maryland (8/15/2014). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/10/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Charles Co., Maryland (6/3/2009). Photo by Kerry Wixted. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/30/2011). Photo by Rod Burley. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Harford Co., Maryland (8/19/2017). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/11/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A female Cow Killer in Charles Co., Maryland (8/23/2020). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/13/2020). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/13/2020). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/29/2009). Photo by Lee Hancock. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/2/2014). Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/23/2016). Photo by Derek Hudgins. (MBP list)

Female Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/31/2004). Photo by Sara Tangren. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/25/2015). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Cow Killer in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/21/2015). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Cow Killer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/15/2021). Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)

Cow Killer in Talbot Co., Maryland (7/4/2015). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)


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