The insect commonly known as the velvet ant is not an ant at all, but a species of solitary wasp belonging to the family Mutillidae. These insects are often found scurrying across lawns and sandy patches during the warmer months, prompting concern due to their painful defensive capabilities. People encountering these brightly colored, fuzzy wasps are typically seeking effective methods to manage their presence and prevent the risk of a severe sting.
Understanding the Velvet Ant (Identification and Behavior)
The velvet ant is easily identified by its dense, fur-like covering of hair, often displaying bright aposematic colors such as red, orange, or gold contrasting with black. The females are wingless, leading to their misidentification as ants, and measure up to about three-quarters of an inch in length. In contrast, the males possess wings and resemble more typical wasps, though they are rarely noticed.
These wasps are solitary and do not form colonies or hives like yellow jackets or honeybees, meaning a homeowner will rarely find a large-scale infestation. The females spend their time crawling across the ground in search of a host, which is a defining feature of their life cycle as parasitoids. They seek out the nests of ground-nesting bees and wasps, such as cicada killers or solitary bees, to lay a single egg on or near the host’s pupae.
The sting is a defensive mechanism, not a tool for aggression, but it inflicts intense pain. The sting of the female velvet ant is rated a 3 on the Schmidt Pain Index, an exceptionally high score. Although the sting is rarely medically dangerous, their durable exoskeleton provides protection, making them difficult to crush or harm.
Habitat Modification and Exclusion
Because velvet ants depend on ground-nesting insects for reproduction, the most effective non-lethal control method is to eliminate the host habitat. Velvet ant larvae parasitize the larvae and pupae of ground-nesting bees and wasps. Reducing the population of these host insects will naturally reduce the number of velvet ants attracted to the area.
One primary strategy involves maintaining a dense, healthy lawn, as ground-nesting bees and wasps prefer areas with bare or sandy soil. Overseeding thin patches and promoting a thick turf cover will discourage host insects from establishing nests. Filling in any abandoned rodent burrows or holes in the soil can also remove potential nesting sites that hosts might otherwise use.
Adult velvet ants feed on plant nectar and water, so limiting these resources can make a property less appealing. Regularly mowing the lawn and clearing away yard debris, such as logs, rocks, and overgrown foliage, removes potential hiding spots and reduces the availability of flowering weeds. This preventative maintenance makes the environment less conducive to the velvet ant life cycle.
Targeted Elimination Strategies
For individual velvet ants found on the property, physical elimination is the most direct intervention. Females can inflict a painful sting, so direct contact should be avoided, and footwear should be worn outdoors to prevent accidental encounters. A standard aerosol wasp and hornet spray is an effective tool for individual specimens, providing a quick knockdown from a safe distance, often up to 20 feet away.
If ground burrows are identified, they are likely the nests of host insects that the velvet ant is attempting to parasitize, not a velvet ant colony itself. These active host nests can be treated with an insecticidal dust, which is applied directly into the opening using a handheld duster. The dust should be puffed two to three times into the hole, coating the interior where the host larvae and pupae reside.
The dust works to eliminate the host insects. This method offers long-term control because the residual nature of the dust can remain active within the burrow for several months. If the host insect population is overwhelming, or if the user is uncomfortable applying insecticides, consulting a licensed pest management professional is advisable.