Velvet Ant
Mutillidae (AKA Velvet Ants) are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair, which most often is bright scarlet or orange, but may also be black, white, silver, or gold.
I've only seen one other one but it was a few years ago and it was much smaller than this one. This one was probably only about 6mm long. Photographed at Lake Waterford Park in Maryland.
Velvet Ant
Mutillidae (AKA Velvet Ants) are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair, which most often is bright scarlet or orange, but may also be black, white, silver, or gold.
I've only seen one other one but it was a few years ago and it was much smaller than this one. This one was probably only about 6mm long. Photographed at Lake Waterford Park in Maryland.