courtesy of the website “What’s that bug?”

Letting a velvet ant crawl on your hand, like in the above photo, might make for great drama, but it is foolish to handle these creatures because they will sting.

courtesy of the website “What’s that bug?”

A velvet ant, or cow killer, is actually a unique species of wasp found in the Upstate.

During the warm months of summer, a person who looks carefully in newly mowed grass may see the “cow killer.”

This femme fatale is capable of causing strong sensations, because she is both striking in appearance and capable of packing a wallop when disturbed.

The “velvet ant” is more often called the cow killer or “cow ant.”

This female, wingless wasp does not actually kill cows or anything else, but like most wasps, it can deliver a potent sting if molested, according to Clemson University scientists. Growing to lengths from three-quarter to 1 1/2 inches, velvet ants can emit a high-pitched hum or squeak if anything gets too close.

The name velvet ant derives from the wasp’s fuzzy appearance. The insect is covered with a hairy fur that looks like velvet. These wasps usually are encountered crawling on the ground in fields or lawns and look very much like a large ant. The color of the insect can vary by region from almost pure white in the West to orange and black in the Midwest to the bright red and black of the South. The velvet ant is a unique species of wasp not often seen in the Upstate.

The rarely seen male has wings but no stinger and looks nothing like the female. Scientific descriptions of the velvet ant emphasize the “extreme sexual dimorphism,” or differences in appearance, between the sexes.

Scientific journals say there are at least 41 species of velvet ant in South Carolina. The most common type seen in the state is Dasymutilla occidentalis. While the insect is not technically an ant, the name has stuck.

“Velvet ants are nondestructive and should be left alone if encountered. They are parasitic on many ground nesting wasps and bees,” said Clemson University entomologist Donald Manley, a noted expert regarding velvet ants.

Clemson entomologist Bob Bellinger said, “It is sometimes difficult to determine what species you are dealing with unless the wasp is caught in the act of mating with an identifiable female. Their biology is incomplete, and the life cycle is not yet understood.”

According to the Web site “What’s that bug?”, 2008 “may bring a bumper crop of velvet ants.”

“We have received many more reports than usual from people wanting to know ‘What is this fuzzy red insect?’” according to the Web site.

“The biggest problem with velvet ants is their capacity to sting pets and humans. If you are of the habit of walking barefooted in the grass during summer, you should be aware of velvet ants,” said Bellinger, whose fellow scientist was severely stung in Central America. “You may never see one, but if you do, don’t panic! They are not aggressive like other wasps and will leave you alone if you leave them alone. They are really pretty cool. Look for them in open areas with sandy soil. Marvel at their muscular body, and rest assured that they are solitary, and you do not have to spray insecticide over your entire yard to kill their ‘nest’.”

Specimens velvet ants of found in the Dominican Republic preserved in fossil amber (tree resin) are said to be between 25 million and 40 million years old, according to the Smithsonian Natural Science Museum.