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Don’t be fooled by the name, this insect is actually a wasp. The Mutillidae are a family of more than 3,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to a dense pile of hair which is usually a bright scarlet or orange. In some instances, the hair may also be black, white, silver or gold.
Black and white wasps are known as panda ants. They are also known for their extremely painful stings, hence another common name—cow killer or cow ant. Found worldwide, these wasps are especially common in desert and sandy areas and the dry tropics.Image credit: Wayne Boo, USGS
