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EagleFan
07-30-2014, 10:19 PM
Has anyone encountered these things? Wife has seen a couple over the past couple weeks, one on the porch today.

Had no idea what it was (looked like a very large ant with red and black stripes) but looked it up and found it to be a red velvet ant. They are not actually ants but wasps. The females look like large ants and don't fly. The concerning part is that everywhere that I have read says they have the most painful sting of any bee (many times I saw the phrase praying for death in relation to someone who was stung). Don't want that one from the porch to find its way into the house and have a barefooted surprise one night.

Anyone out there ever deal with these? I have never seen one in my life so I was surprised to see the picture (below picture not from the wife but exactly what it looked like).

http://www.jeffpippen.com/hymenoptera/velvet-ant060516-8391facez.jpg

thesloppy
07-30-2014, 10:49 PM
It sounds and looks delicious. Have you tried eating one?

GrantDawg
07-31-2014, 05:31 AM
Yes, I've seen them. They are supposed to pack a wallop, but I've never actually heard/seen anyone stung by them. They don't generally go into houses (they are ground burrowers), but I guess it is always possible. Just spray your door and window frames with a residual insecticide (ie. liquid pump bottle type sprayer, not an aerosol), and use a gradual insecticide around the perimeter of the house. I wouldn't be over worried about them, but that should at least give you some piece of mind.

Kodos
07-31-2014, 06:53 AM
I, for one, love red velvet pants!

JediKooter
07-31-2014, 08:52 AM
Well, I really love red velvet lamps!

lighthousekeeper
07-31-2014, 10:27 AM
Well, I really love red velvet lamps!

http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.10081699.4925/fc,550x550,white.jpg

korme
07-31-2014, 10:33 AM
This reminds me of the time I hate fucking wasps.

JediKooter
07-31-2014, 11:11 AM
http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.10081699.4925/fc,550x550,white.jpg

Nice!

Warhammer
07-31-2014, 06:41 PM
Surprised no one made a parody with red velvet Elvis ants...

molson
07-31-2014, 07:06 PM
I want a red velvet ant farm.

CU Tiger
07-31-2014, 08:29 PM
We always called those "cow killers"...never been bit/stung by one but I have heard they bring the suck

cuervo72
07-31-2014, 09:03 PM
I, for one, love red velvet pants!

I googled them, and I think I agree.

PilotMan
08-01-2014, 09:15 PM
Why not Red Velvet Mites?

This is a red velvet mite and he is here to teach you about love - The Oatmeal (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/red_velvet_mite)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/theoatmeal-img/comics/red_velvet_mite/header.png