What Type of Insect Could This Be?
Question:I was out gardening today when I came across a bug that looked like it was from another planet lol.
It looked like a cross between a hornet, an ant and a roach. It was similar to a large bettle shape like a roach, but it rounded a bit like a hornet, head & legs were more ant like. It was 2-3 inches long with large vibrant reddish orange/black stripes. I couldn't tell if it had wings or not (I didn't want to get too close) but I don't think it did. I have found several of them by the wall of my house & would sure like to know what the heck they are if anybody has any wild guesses on this lol :) Thanks!
Answers:
Actually it's not an ant-It's called a Velvet Ant [it is covered with a velvety fur?] . It's a bee/wasp that lives underground and harmless/flightless.
What you saw is a big fire ant. It looks like an ant but it is actually in the wasp family. They will sting you to death and they are poisinous. Thei shell is so strong, it is hard to kill them.
If you ever see one, keep a can of ant and wasp sray close by to douse it promptly. They like to burrow, which means if you see 1, there are probably many more around, and if you disturb them, they will send a signal to the other army of them and swarm you!
No joke honey. I have lived around them my whole life! Keep babies and small children out of the area of a sand box or dirt pile. Those things love that stuff!
try .whatsthatbug.
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