Velvet Ant aka Cow Ant .. Bites and Stings series

[erkb96]

@2011backagain A-THANK YOU!!

[250blablabla]

i got stung by one of those lil bastards and it hurt like a bitch i had no idea wat it was so i tryed to hold it still by pushing it to the ground cause they are really fast IT HURT

[robertocarlosibarra]

I seenn yellow orange and blue ones

[Stillwater900]

Its cow-KILLER, not cow ant

[h1dd3nr4g3]

I doubt it's painful enough to kill a cow, but man it hurts like hell. It's the most painful sting I've ever felt.

[gizmotwadlebutt]

Once I was on a large farm tractor (several tons) and seen one of these things. I ran over it back and forth several times with the front tire. Even stopped on it and turn the wheel tring to grind it. I never did kill it just pressed it into the hard clay soil. There built better than a tank. I love bees but hate all wasp.

[sukidiamond]

I always wondered what that was when I saw it as a child. I was about to pick it up, but an angel was looking over me that day and told me not to. For some reason, I called it and named it a cow ant without knowing what it was. I called it this because it was as big as a cow! Thanks for your video. :)

[2011backagain]

i took a viagra the other day and it got stuck in my throat........................­I had a stiff neck for a week

[booyalakasha1]

Hot damn she's sexxxy when she says "critters" .

[72snakebite]

Back when i was a kid, i caught a cow killer ant and made it sting a frog to see what it would do. Well, it killed the frog.

[eatyocornbread]

I live in Tennessee and these things are everywhere!

[dchs11]

name of the song at the beginning please

[MsMeezie]

I just saw one in my yard! I had to google it to find out what it was! Thanks for the info!

[jason73015]

i got stung by one when i was 13 i never seen one before and wanted to touch it lol...it was pretty painful but i was able to handle it

[aveng7foldunreal]

i live in alabama and i got stung like a week ago my thumb swole up so bad and it hurt so insanely.

[momtoangel22]

Saw my first one here in Virginia about a week ago scooting across my garden in the daylight! Saw it again yesterday and took pics and posted on facebook asking what it was - got the same answers as I found here. Very informative video! I'll leave my little guy alone as long as he leaves me alone! I worry more about the bees that build nests in the ground - two of them stung me about a week ago and my leg is still swollen! Felt like a train hit me! Any advice on getting rid of them?

[Salix800]

"Cow Killer" not "Cow Ant"

[ap291]

i got stung by one of these while working outside today. im ok tho!

[omgsean2]

@ap291 but its very pain?

[ColoradoLizardDude]

bear gryyls would eat them cuz they r high in protein.

[liljoke2050]

ME MY BROTHE SAW ONE YESTERDAY WE KEPT ON WACKING IT BUT IT WOULDNT DIE, IT WAS UNTIL I I CRUSH THE THORAX WHICH BY THE WAY WAS REALLY HARD(LITTERALLY), ANYWAAYS WHEN I DID THIS ME AND MY BRO WERE SO AMAZED BECUASE WE SEEEN THE STINGER KEEP COMING IN AND OUT THAT DAMM THING WAS NEEDLE LIKE AND LONG, I GOT CHILLSDOWN MY SPINE BECAUSE I WAS HANDLING IT WITH A 1 INCH TWIG

[cadmusbane]

@liljoke2050 OMG I LUUUURVE CAPS LOCK!

[gondule]

Guess i'm the only one that's not a fan of southern accents they just make smart southern people sound less smart to me. Every time I hear a southern accent I picture hicks. Great video though very informative hope I don't run across one of these while i'm walking my dog they love to mess with anything they can play with.

[jlhallmark]

Great info!:)))) I am from where you are (southeast) and I just saw one in my backyard and I wanted to learn about them. This really helped! Thanks!!

[DEATH94SQUAD]

i like her accent

[Nakor420ish]

It's called the cow KILLER ant, because they are known to crawl up inside the nostrils of grazing cows and sting the inside of the sinus. Causeing swelling and then suffocation.

[IDFPleonexia]

@Nakor420ish Any proof to support that statement? No. It's just a nickname given to them to describe the pain of the sting. It's an exaggeration: "painful enough to kill a cow".

[theHippy86]

growing up in idaho i saw these guys once in a great while, i loved them, i loved to poke them and hear them squeek. it was so cool. if i had known they stung i probably wouldnt have played with them. i never knew what they were called so i just called them baby potato bugs

[mozeus5]

Very informative, Sexy accent! from Georgia?

[OnoaSnake]

ive been stung by one, pain is about the same as a giant hornet sting.

[TheZedo999]

Nice video, very professional...I only wish I would have seen it before I got stung, lmao.

And I might add, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, and did I mention, OUCH!!! I've been stung by lots of things, and I can tell you this little sucker hurts more than a man-o-war jellyfish or even a scorpion sting, much much more! Give em a wide berth if you can.

[TheZedo999]

Nice video, very professional...I only wish I would have seen it before I got stung, lmao.

And I might add, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, and did I mention, OUCH!!! I've been stung by lots of things, and I can tell you this little sucker hurts more than a man-o-war jellyfish or even a scorpion sting, much much more! Give em a wide berth if you can.

[Margogo2007]

I saw these at camp-- they are S-C-A-R-Y!

[Cristalraindrops]

@KILRxxCLAN

Thats so sad ;(

[TribalSpider13]

it is not called a cow ant it is called a Cow Killer

[blindshooter10]

Your chihuahua is SO CUTE.

[pugggs]

@blindshooter10 no it's not.

[FCA1975]

I love her country accent, it's so adorable.

[KiLRxxClan]

i found out why it is called the cow killer, not because the sting is so painful, but that the ants crawl into the cows nose and bite the inside of it, this causes swelling and the cow eventually cant breath, and it dies :( sad but true!

[back720sk8er]

i always wondered why in florida when i lived there we all called them cow killer ants and when i moved to alabama they said cow ant . i was like thats not even a b/a name and you took the best part of its name out. but ya you can go ahead and say on your show that it hurts incredibly bad. but ice water helps and i wouldn't do again for less than 50 $ :)

[HuasoPodrido]

Dam nature, your scary!

[pugggs]

@HuasoPodrido copy-cat.....

[logos2600]

I live in NC and see these walking around every once in a while in the summer. i always assumed they had a nasty sting just by the size and color of the suckers.

[doneidson]

That's a cute little dog.

[julzdrums]

this chick is pretty beauitful. nice video. eh

[billybaloop]

Ah just love ur accent :D.

[infowazz]

@billybaloop noramlly that kind of accent annoys me, but she has a nice ring to it. southern charm i guess.

[n2488]

what happened to your dog it tiny

[gardenmagik]

@n2488 ...LOL! My doggy Pedro is a 4 pound (tea cup) Chihuahua.. Nothing happened to him...he is just little... Thanks for asking though!

[medicchief1]

All very true, the only thing i have to add is this: If you get stung and you start to have difficulty breathing and do not have an Epipen available- DO NOT try to drive yourself to a hospital, call an 911 immediately! Again, DO NOT drive yourself! You can go into full Anaphylactic Shock behind the wheel and endanger yourself and others. Ambulances carry Epinephrine and can give you the shot that can save your life, but this wont help if you die due to injuries from a motor vehicular colission

[hater0311]

That lady is damn sexy!!!! to be quiet honest I don't really give a rats ass about some ant I just like her and that awesome lil dog!!!!! to hell with cow ants

[gardenmagik]

@theparodyworks ... you made me lol! Thanks for watching the vid!

[dokushirizo]

i read her profile and she DOES have her show on her local Ch. 16. i think she should go national thumbs up if you agree!

[gardenmagik]

@dokushirizo ... What awesome comments you left! Thank you so much and many Blessings from my garden!

[dokushirizo]

she's sooo adorable lol and super informative. she should have her own show "Southern Garden Critter Power Hour" i'd definately Tivo it lol

[KravVolder]

Just caught one of these things in my kitchen.

[yankeegurl62]

thanks for the info, I've been here in FL for over 20 years, and the darn things always amazed me. No, haven't been bit by one of those little things, darn near been bit by just about everything else. I've learned to stay away from catapillars, and the like too...everything down here has stingers and attitude!! YIKES...

[gardenmagik]

@yankeegurl62 ...They are amazing for sure... something so little can be so dangerous...

[lcrow4978]

Very informative! Love that southern accent!

[gardenmagik]

@lcrow4978 ... Thank you!

[RazorRivetRiot]

It lives off... Other... Critters... Do yourself a favor, stop watching Ellie May Beverlyhillbilly, and use Wiki like a normal person.

[gardenmagik]

@RazorRivetRiot ... I love Ellie May...

[forganater]

@gardenmagik  dont worrry about douche bags like him. your alright

[Adario]

Great job! You answered all and more of my questions!! THANK YOU!!!

[gardenmagik]

@Adario ...Thank you too! and you are very welcome!

[Strutingeagle]

That is a lovely accent. Californian?

[gardenmagik]

@Strutingeagle ...Heehee.. no, Im from Georgia...

[ArxVirtus]

It's not call the "Cow Ant." It's called the "Cow Killer Ant." As she says it's not an ant and they don't actually kill cows.

[Blazethebest3]

awe i love the colour of it and its actually kinda cute

[gardenmagik]

@Blazethebest3 ...Yeah, they are pretty!

[SmokeUallday]

Stay away from those things! i was put in the hospital for 2 days with 105 temp. i usually do not have allergies to bites or stings...

[gardenmagik]

@SmokeUallday ... You were definitely allergic! Hope youre better!

[xXxSweetCyNxXx]

there was a breeding ground in my yard not even a month ago....there was a few females and a dozen males and they do look similar to the females just a lot skinnier and has wings..there is more black on the males also

[rico6801]

THEY DO NOT KILL COWS!!!!

[420Jakal]

down here in the SOUTH

[bloodytears2006]

I found one here in morganton,nc right at the hostipal there were look at it and said what is that so i took a cup an scooped it up and head straight home found out it was.I found the cherry red/black band cow killer ant

[filoIII]

what's their range

[gardenmagik]

@filoIII ...Hey! The cow ants are found all over the US...

[Sabrewulf007]

what about ants? I got lost in your eyes

[p00nedlol2]

Don't the male's have wings and the female's don't but they sting harder?

[breezynjuli]

thanks for posting this video! we've been wondering what these insects were, and enjoyed your informative explanation!

[Dumarus]

Thanks a lot. I was looking for this informations.

I've just catch one of them in my house and I was sure it as an ant until I've started search for "hairy ant" :-)

[dimebagdave77]

are you in N.C.?

[supah1337B]

multillidae : velvet ant cow ant esc are in the wasp family but are wingless...

and they hurt like hell

[theairsoftsniper1011]

i live in georgia 2

[dpstarcom]

ants are the same things as wasps. ants are evolved from wasps

[jtartt1]

They are called 'cow ants' because when a cow is eating grass, it pulls it up by the roots. If there are any of the ants in there, they have been known to craw up the face/ nostrils of the cows and sting them, sometimes killing them.

On a side note, I put one in a sealed jar filled with brake fluid and it lasted a week before dieing.

[gardenmagik]

Brake fluid? Im not surprised that it didnt die.. they are really tough!

[skirts365]

DAMN.  If that's correct, let Justin Schmidt's bullet ant go for that ride. I figure it would croak but fast, proving our cow ants are much worse creatures!!

[SkinnyV7X]

lol we have these at the F.E.Y.C.(Florida Elks Youth Camp) and we have archery time and a councelor got 1, tied it to the tip of the arrow shot it point blank at the ground at full force... it crawled away afterwards. btw its called a red velvet ant and its a wingless "hornet" lol.

[cheeselsprout]

better watch out chrisw40 these little bastards are no joke. you can stomp on em and they do not get crushed they are practically armor covered no known predators some have stingers 5/8 of an inch long. when you trap them they make screaming noises they also do it in mating. theyre not aggressive until trapped. google it

[chrisw40]

I have seen them never knew what they were didnt like them though next time i will try and catch one

[mnpd007]

You can't hardly kill those things. You can stomp them repeatedly and they just won't die. They also can curve their abdomen to sting a lot further than you think.

They are covered in soft velvet, but underneath the carpet is a hard-as-titanium exoskelton that nothing in the natural world can penetrate.

Walking barefoot around here was a good way to get stung. Stung people would go insane from the pain, and would scream and pass out. Those allergic would die in minutes.

[skirts365]

I believe your statements. So WHY does the screwed up Schmidt Sting Pain index IGNORE the cow ant? The giant cicada killer wasp? The giant Japanese hornet, and the puss caterpillar?

[mnpd007]

Probably because the Index never covered all stinging insects of the world. I've seen Amazon natives make gloves full of bullet ants as a manhood ritual. I can guarantee anyone that they wouldn't do that with CowKiller Ants.

I would rather have a entire nest of red wasps sting my cheeks than a single cowkiller on the sole of my feet. In generations past a lot of the farmers and their kids around here would work barefoot in the plowed fields and get stung.

[gardenmagik]

Haha! I think they need to add the Cow killer Ant to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index list of stinging insects for sure!

[ShaneFitzyGaming]

They did it was on the wiki.Its a 3 which means its sting is the same as a paper wasp.

[ShaneFitzyGaming]

Oh i'm wrong, because it's was a different sting index but it is still a 3 out of 4

[gardenmagik]

@ ShaneFitzyGaming- Thanks for finding that out!

[ShaneFitzyGaming]

@gardenmagik your welcome

[samdud21034]

my dad just got bite by one right now wut do u tink will happen it been a few seconds and he aredy got a bump

[Wallabydam]

they are up here in Northern VA i killd one the other day because i was laying on the driveway when it ran across my neck, a Sh!t myself almost

[Scorpion24]

Yup we have them in South Carolina

[SVTtaurus]

I could listen to her all day. I'm from California so I don't hear southern girl speak too often - gotta love it. Great video by the way.

[WaterfrontEnt]

I had to swallow one of these painful buggers as an initiation to join a band. well it stung the immediate part of my throat just past the tongue and it swelled up. I had to drill a hole in my throat just under my Adams apple, and had to insert a large fat Jack-in-The Box straw in order to breathe!!! true story!!! the things you'll do when you're desperate for air to survive jack!!

[dinosquirrel]

lets forget you said "the things you'll do to survive" and focus on the fact you did that to JOIN A BAND... more like the stupid things you do for nothing in return. I'm guessing you were(are)17 and play the bass or drums. Let me know how close I am.

[BarcodeBass31]

These are called cow killers because they crawl through the pasture. The cow eats them. It stings their throat as it goes down, the cows throat swells shut and they choke to death.

[steelymcbeam112]

please do not get stung by one of these! they hurt really really really............ really bad.... i got stung by one and yeah like i said before they hurt

[sixgun636]

Looks mean, however it's not a parasite. Could be mistaken for one though. A parasite requires a host to live, whether in or on. This particular wasp can survive off plant material as well as other insects and is a free-roaming insect. Also, Love the southern drawl. :)

[gardenmagik]

Did you hear the part about the life cycle?The larvae are solitary, external parasites of developing bumble bees. That's why i said it is parasitic. The adult female is a loner, and free-roaming.

Thanks for the comment...

[74shannon]

Thanks for Info. ! I just found a female here in North Indidna (Bright Red&Black). I guess I was lucky she didn't sting me!!

[ToppervisionEnt]

Good information! I just caught one of these, filmed it then let it go. I'll likely upload a video of it. Yea, everything about it's appearance told me "Don't let it sting you!" lol.

[sixgun636]

Oh but you should let it sting you....it will feel like soothing rain on a hot summer day in indiana whilst running in a field of petunias singing "one Love" by Bob Marley.

[wiseoneetest]

You dont want to get stung by this insect....their exoskeleton is extrememly tough....i have stomped on them with a pair of boots on blacktop and these critters just keep on walking....if you use the stem and drag technique you can kill them....The stinger on these wasps can exceed 1 inch in length when fully extended....this is a bad boy insect....be advised

[Jacktheripperrer]

Well. I have alot of them were i live. And they are realy starting to crowed around were my baby sister's Play equipment is located. Does anyone have a way to kill the cow ants fast.....I tried stomping on a couple but they lived 0.o

[DooDooCha]

i like stomping on one slowly to hear it 'scream' persay

[155Millimeter]

I recommend the Saiga 12 Guage shotgun (search, and see it here on youtube.) for this type of predator, You will find that this Saiga 12 will take care of this ant fairly quickly...

[gardenmagik]

Lol! never thought of using that!

[gardenmagik]

Yall must have lots of ground bees living nearby. Kill them off and you will probably get rid of the population of these Cow Ants...

[tyden85]

i just killed one in my yard....they are extremely tough.

[gardenmagik]

so true!

[liane29745]

i say lets me and you build a far and go daancin woohoo

[crowdpleaser06]

Hot Southern Belle with a brain to boot!!!

I love you girl!!!

[KawaiiKemonomimi]

The jumping spiders I have try to fool predators by looking like this wasp.

[amurret]

Yeah those things are AWESOME though I really like those ants/wasps. But I've been stung when I was younger and found one playing in the yard, I caught it and thought it looked really cool and it bit the shit out of me haha.. but they are still cool!

[gardenmagik]

Lol! Im sure it hurt like crazy though!

[amurret]

Hell yeah, surprised the hell out of me too.. I don't know how I could assume such an exotic looking thing wouldn't bite me. Especially when it started screeching at me.. haha. Somehow I feel like that part should have clued me off..! If it can make a noise like that I don't want to know what else it can do..

[WILLZIAAK]

i got stung by 1 of those in my bed :'( hurt for like a week

[gardenmagik]

In your bed!!?? These wingless wasps definitely deliver a bad sting!

[respectbluder]

dang you is well fit

[pumkinvine]

them cow killers are red and black in Georgia for obvious reasons. (go dawgs!)

[gardenmagik]

So True! Go Dawgs!

[Rambowookie]

ive seen one before. i tried to kill it by stepping on it, they are tough as crap to kill. and their fast. my freind has cow ants in his yard

[elect87]

nice dog jeje, like his owner =). Keep the good work.

[pippyb101]

Your dawg is just chilllin'

[NicholasDAZ82]

I like yer accent cute thang.

[slimshatta123]

yo so hot

[gardenmagik]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the comments!

[okiebugg200]

Hey kid, I've even seen these insects out here in the badlands of Oklahoma (go Sooners).

I think of you every day..........Jim

[gardenmagik]

Hey! Im so glad you commented! Is the coloring the same out there as it is here?

Just wondering-

luv ya! melissa

[Blinkazoid]

Interesting stuff! I live in Western N.C. and have never seen one.

[gardenmagik]

What?! We see them quite often down here.. They are quick too! You will see them mostly in the mid summer, until fall here... & Thank you for the comment!

[thoraxxx2]

i love your accent and i never been stung but you get them all the time down here in florida and ive got them to scream before

[washblue]

Hey CM! It's been a while since I've seen one of the big cow ants... and next time I do... I'll be better educated! Thanks!

[gardenmagik]

Definitely! and you are most welcome!

[enduringpatriot]

Very informative video. I've seen them here in upper South Carolina, but thankfully have never been stung. Thanks for making the video!

[gardenmagik]

You are so welcome! Thanks for the comment!

[MadBadVoodo]

We have a ton of Cow ants in Kentucky... Cool Vid!!

Five Stars!!

[gardenmagik]

Does their color tend to be more orange or more reddish in Kentucky?

[MadBadVoodo]

They are more orange but are kind of orange/red... :)

[gardenmagik]

heeheehee... wouldnt ya know! I want to see one from the West Coast,...

[idahodad1]

I haven't seen any cow ants in North Idaho. Interesting critter. :)

[gardenmagik]

They Are very interesting! The sound they make is really strange too...

[idahodad1]

What kind of sound? Is it something you hear during the day or evening or Night?

[gardenmagik]

They make the noise when distressed... so you probably will never hear one- unless you catch it and hold it down with somethin'... I really should have caught it to make the noise huh! Thanks for the question!