“Velvet ant”

But it's not even an ant, but more about that in a moment.

I thought I would "have to" post a shot of a beaten-up Red-spotted Purple I had from my T2i (submitted to BAMONA) but found the shots I took of this girl with my point-and-shoot. I think it's a particular type of Velvet ant called a Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis). She was just crawling on the driveway outside our garage. Note that Velvet ants are actually wasps and their sting is quite painful. See “Velvet Ant or Cow Killer Ant” » http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/cowkiller.shtml

» Confirmed at BugGuide as “Dasymutilla occidentalis” or “Cow Killer”; http://bugguide.net/node/view/1306109
» Species page at BugGuide, http://bugguide.net/node/view/13126

1 year ago (“Easter Bunny already?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2015-10-04
2 years ago (“‘Ahuiho,’ Maui…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-10-04
3 years ago (“‘Geek Toys V’: As close as I’ve come so far…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-10-04
4 years ago (“I just couldn’t post another Painted Lady…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-10-04
5 years ago (“A lovely day at the gym!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-10-04

[ DSCN1827S8x8B30C20tm :: P&S ]
Taxonomy:
» Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
»» Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
»»» Insects (Class Insecta)
»»»» Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)
»»»»» Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps (no taxonomy, Aculeata)
»»»»»» Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies (Superfamily Pompiloidea)
»»»»»»» Velvet Ants (Family Mutillidae)
»»»»»»»» Dasymutilla (Genus)
»»»»»»»»» Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis)

4th October 2016 4th Oct 16