Cow Killer Or Velvet Ant Dr

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Cow Killer or Velvet Ant Dr. Jody Green, Nebraska Extension Entomologist Fast Facts The cow killer or velvet ant is really a wasp. Females have coarse, very brightly colored hair, no wings and a long stinger. Both male and females will produce a squeaking sound when alarmed. The female can inflict an excruciating sting if handled or stepped on, which is how they got their name. The venom is not very toxic and no cow has ever died. Description The female cow killer ant is a large hairy, wingless wasp that very much resembles an ant. Velvet ants can be up to 1-inch long with a black body with coarse and bright reddish-orange hair on the head, thorax and abdomen. The males are larger than females; possess dark brown wings and different color patterns on its body. It is often difficult to determine whether males and female specimens are the same species because their physical appear- Biology Velvet ants are solitary wasps. Males fly in search of females to mate. The mated female will a ground nesting bee or wasp nest, and lay eggs on or near the other insect’s larva. They are parasi- Cow killer is the most common velvet ant toids because their larvae emerge and feed on the host’s larvae, in Nebraska. Photo by Jody Green, Ne- killing them. Adult velvet ants feed on nectar. braska Extension in Lancaster County. Defenses Female velvet ants though grounded, have many defenses. They are quick movers with a very rigid exoskele- ton and can release smelly odors. In addition, they are capable of delivering a very painful sting. Only females have a large needle-like stinger, which is a modified egg-laying organ called the ovipositor. If handled or stepped on, she can inflict an excruciating sting. They are not aggressive and are not dangerous to humans or pets and their venom is not medically significant. Management Despite their massive defenses, velvet ants are not aggressive. If you see velvet ants around your home, no need to worry. Just leave them alone and wear shoes when outdoors in the lawn. No control measure are necessary and they are not an indoor pest. The stinger of the female velvet ant. Photo by Jim Kalisch, UNL Department of Entomology. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Hymenoptera (Stinging Wasps)
Return to insect order home Page 1 of 3 Visit us on the Web: www.gardeninghelp.org Insect Order ID: Hymenoptera (Stinging Wasps) Life Cycle–Complete metamorphosis: Queens or solitary adults lay eggs. Larvae eat, grow and molt. This stage is repeated a varying number of times, depending on species, until hormonal changes cause the larvae to pupate. Inside a cell (in nests) or a pupal case (solitary), they change in form and color and develop wings. The adults look completely different from the larvae. Solitary wasps: Social wasps: Adults–Stinging wasps have hard bodies and most have membranous wings (some are wingless). The forewing is larger than the hindwing and the two are hooked together as are all Hymenoptera, hence the name "married wings," but this is difficult to see. Some species fold their wings lengthwise, making their wings look long and narrow. The head is oblong and clearly separated from the thorax, and the eyes are compound eyes, but not multifaceted. All have a cinched-in waist (wasp waist). Eggs are laid from the base of the ovipositor, while the ovipositor itself, in most species, has evolved into a stinger. Thus only females have stingers. (Click images to enlarge or orange text for more information.) Oblong head Compound eyes Folded wings but not multifaceted appear Cinched in waist long & narrow Return to insect order home Page 2 of 3 Eggs–Colonies of social wasps have at least one queen that lays both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. Most are fertilized and all fertilized eggs are female. Most of these become workers; a few become queens.
[Show full text]
Management of Insect Sting Hypersensitivity: an Update Robert D
Review Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2013 May;5(3):129-137. http://dx.doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.3.129 pISSN 2092-7355 • eISSN 2092-7363 Management of Insect Sting Hypersensitivity: An Update Robert D. Pesek,1* Richard F. Lockey2 1Division of Allergy and Immunology, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA 2Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of South Florida and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Reactions to Hymenoptera insect stings are common. While most are self-limited, some induce systemic allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. Prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of these reactions are important for improving quality-of-life and reducing the risk of future sting reactions. This review summarizes the current recommendations to diagnose and treat Hymenoptera sting induced allergic reactions and highlights considerations for various populations throughout the world. Key Words: Hymenoptera allergy; venom immunotherapy; sting-induced anaphylaxis; insect sting allergy; insect sting hypersensitivity INTRODUCTION (Polistes); family Apidea (bees); and family Formicidae (ants) (Figure).3 Proper recognition of the insect responsible for the Allergic reactions triggered by Hymenoptera insects have
[Show full text]
Instruction Sheet: Bee Sting, Local Reaction
University of North Carolina Wilmington Abrons Student Health Center INSTRUCTION SHEET: BEE STING, LOCAL REACTION The Student Health Provider has diagnosed a mild allergic reaction to a bee/wasp sting. Fortunately, most bee stings are not serious and cause only temporary swelling, redness, and pain at the sting site. Rarely, a whole-body allergic reaction occurs; shock can result. The stinger, if still in the wound, should be removed; if the stinger is left in place, bee toxin continues to enter the body, increasing the reaction. A stinger should be removed with a piece of paper or credit card, using a sideways scraping motion. A pair of tweezers can also be used to remove the stinger, but try not to squeeze the stinger, or more toxin can be pushed inside the wound. Realize that swelling may increase at first, even with treatment. Measures can be taken, however, to minimize the reaction to bee stings. MEASURES YOU SHOULD TAKE TO HELP TREAT YOUR BEE STING: 1. Rest and elevate the affected body part. Rest and elevation help reduce swelling and pain. 2. Apply cold packs to the area off-and-on for the first 24 hours after injury. Cold helps ease discomfort, and minimizes additional swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the area, causing discomfort. Rather, aim for coolness, yet comfort, applying a layer or two of cloth between the cold pack and affected area. 3. Take over-the-counter antihistamines: In the morning, take a non-sedating antihistamine such as loratadine, 10 mg daily. At night, take diphenhydramine (Benadryl), 25 mg, 1 or 2 every 6 hours for itching and swelling.
[Show full text]
Bee Stings and Your Pets and Livestock
TREATING YOUR ANIMAL LOOK FOR STINGERS once the animal is away from bees. When a honey bee stings, it loses its venom sac and stinger. This means the honey bee dies after it stings, but the stinger may continue to in- ject venom for up to a minute or until the stinger is removed. If you can see stingers on the animal, remove then by scraping them out with a credit card, knife or finger- nail. Do not pull them out with tweezers or BEE STINGS AND fingers because you will squeeze more venom into the sting. YOUR PETS AND IF AN ANIMAL HAS SUSTAINED NU- LIVESTOCK MEROUS STINGS, EMERGENCY TREATMENT BY YOUR VETERINARIAN MAY BE REQUIRED. The number of stings an animal can survive depends on its body weight, the amount of venom it received and whether or not it is allergic to bee venom. As with humans, even one sting may be dangerous if the animal is allergic. Georgia Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Division Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Atlanta: 404-651-9486 Tifton: 229-386-3464 Africanized honey bees (AHB), some- Protecting Animals KEEP DOGS UNDER CONTROL times called “killer bees,” became es- WHEN HIKING. A dog bounding tablished in Texas in 1990 and are MAKE A REGULAR INSPECTION OF YOUR PROPERTY FOR BEE NESTS. through the brush is more likely to dis- spreading to other states including turb bees than one following quietly at Georgia. Honey bees nest in a wide variety of sites, such as trees or shrubs, animal your heels. The Africanized honey bee is related to burrows in the ground, water meter our state’s familiar honey bee, the Eu- boxes and overturned flower pots.
[Show full text]
Asian Giant Hornet in Washington State
ASIAN GIANT HORNET IN WASHINGTON STATE PEST PROGRAM INTRODUCTION ASIAN Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet. The hornet is native to Asia, and has GIANT been recorded from Japan, Korea, Russia, China, and several other countries. In December 2019, WSDA HORNET verified the first ever sightings of Asian giant hornet in the United States. If Asian giant hornet becomes Asian giant hornet (AGH) is a predatory wasp that established, it could feeds on a wide variety of insects. The introduction have serious impacts of this species is of major concern to agriculture on the environment, because of its predation on honeybees - a few Asian economy, and giant hornets can kill an entire beehive in a matter public health of of hours. If unmanaged they could significantly Washington State. increase costs for beekeepers and potentially disrupt pollination services. They could also impact other local insect populations. While AGH does not generally attack people or pets, they can sting when threatened. If it becomes established, this hornet could have serious impacts on the environment, economy, and public health of Washington State. Some of the Asian giant hornet specimens WSDA recovered during eradication of a nest in Blaine, WA - the first ever nest found in the U.S. ASIAN GIANT HORNET | 1 identification • Usually 1.5 - 2 inches in length, with queens being substantially larger than workers or males • Large orange/yellow head with prominent eyes • Black and orange/yellow striped abdomen • Forms large colonies that usually nest in the ground, although sometimes in tree cavities lookalikes • Western cicada killers are mostly rust-orange colored and have yellow spots on the abdomen.
[Show full text]
Red Imported Fire Ants of the United States, Including Most of Eastern North Carolina
ontrol of Red reatment of Red CImported Fire Ants TImported Fire Ant Stings Red Trying to control red imported fire ants over For just a few stings that cause only small large areas is difficult. Once they enter an welts, wash the area with soap and water, area, they will begin to spread. The best and apply antiseptic cream. For a large Imported practice is to control them in places where number of stings or a bad skin reaction to people are active. a fire ant bite, see a doctor. Fire Ants To get rid of a fire ant colony, the queen must be killed. Two methods can be used: baits or drenches. Baits are pellets made of insecticide and ant food that can be spread on the ground. Worker ants bring the bait back to the colony where it will be eaten by the queen. Baits work slowly but are good for large areas with many mounds. Drenches are insecticides mixed with water and poured into the mound. About a gallon of mix is needed to soak the mound and reach the queen. Drenches work quickly and are good for homeowners with just a few fire ant mounds. Homeowners can buy baits and drenches where lawn and garden products are sold. It is important to read and carefully follow label directions when using insecticides. NEED MORE INFORMATION? Contact your local health department or the Public Health Pest Management Section at (919) 733-6407. N.C. Department of Environment Some and Natural Resources Division of Environmental Health Public Health Pest Management Section http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/phpm/index.htm Revised: 4/03/09 Facts Red imported fire ants come from South America.
[Show full text]
What Is a Hornet? Scott Camazine
This is a Pre-Review Version of This Factsheet - An Update Will Be Available When Reviews Are Complete The Asian giant hornet (AGH) or Japanese giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, recently found in Brit- ish Columbia, Canada, and in Washington State, poses a significant threat to European honey bee (EHB), Apis mellifera, colonies and is a public health issue. The AGH is the world’s largest species of hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia low mountains and forests. The hornet is well adapted to conditions in the Pacific Northwest. If this hornet becomes established, it will have a severe and damaging impact on the honey bee pop- ulation, the beekeeping industry, the environment, public health, and the economy. It is critical that we identify, trap, and attempt to eliminate this new pest before it becomes established and wide- spread. Attempts to contain the spread and eradication of this invasive insect will be most effective Vespa mandarinia japonica from Taraba- in trapping queens during early spring before their nests become established. gani - Wikimedia commons It is critical these actions are taken before the fall reproductive and dispersal phase of the hornet. What is a hornet? Beekeepers in the field are the most crucial line of defense in locating, identifying, and trapping the A hornet is simply a large wasp. Generally, wasps hornets. Yet everyone should be on the lookout for the hornets and report any sightings to local of the class or genus known- as Vespa are con- authorities and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. sidered hornets. Interestingly, there are no true Here we will cover how the AGH will impact the honey bee, give the reader a better understanding hornets (Vespa) native to North America.
[Show full text]
Ovipositor of the Braconid Wasp
JHR 83: 73–99 (2021) doi: 10.3897/jhr.83.64018 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://jhr.pensoft.net Ovipositor of the braconid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: structural and functional aspects Michael Csader1, Karin Mayer1, Oliver Betz1, Stefan Fischer1,2, Benjamin Eggs1 1 Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076, Tübingen, Germany 2 Tübingen Structural Microscopy Core Facility (TSM), Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstrasse 94–96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany Corresponding author: Michael Csader ([email protected]) Academic editor: J. Fernandez-Triana | Received 5 February 2021 | Accepted 22 April 2021 | Published 28 June 2021 http://zoobank.org/FEA676AD-6473-4EA3-8F74-E7F83A572234 Citation: Csader M, Mayer K, Betz O, Fischer S, Eggs B (2021) Ovipositor of the braconid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: structural and functional aspects. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 83: 73–99. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.83.64018 Abstract The Braconidae are a megadiverse and ecologically highly important group of insects. The vast majority of braconid wasps are parasitoids of other insects, usually attacking the egg or larval stages of their hosts. The ovipositor plays a crucial role in the assessment of the potential host and precise egg laying. We used light- and electron-microscopic techniques to investigate all inherent cuticular elements of the ovipositor (the female 9th abdominal tergum, two pairs of valvifers, and three pairs of valvulae) of the braconid Habrobra- con hebetor (Say, 1836) in detail with respect to their morphological structure and microsculpture. Based on serial sections, we reconstructed the terebra in 3D with all its inherent structures and the ligaments connecting it to the 2nd valvifers.
[Show full text]
Biological Differences Reflect Host Preference in Two Parasitoids Attacking the Bark Beetle Ips Typographus (Coleoptera : Scolytidae) in Belgium
UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Previously Published Works Title Biological differences reflect host preference in two parasitoids attacking the bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera : Scolytidae) in Belgium Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/64h0k3qr Journal Bulletin of Entomological Research, 94(4) ISSN 0007-4853 Authors Hougardy, Evelyne Gregoire, J C Publication Date 2004-08-01 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Bulletin of Entomological Research (2004) 94, 341–347 DOI: 10.1079/BER2004305 Biological differences reﬂect host preference in two parasitoids attacking the bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Belgium E. Hougardy* and J.-C. Grégoire Lutte biologique et Ecologie spatiale CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 av. F.D. Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium Abstract The basic reproductive biology of two ectoparasitoids developing on the late larval instars of the scolytid Ips typographus Linnaeus, a pest of spruce forests in Eurasia, was studied with the purpose of explaining which biological features allow the two species to share the same host. The anautogenous braconid Coeloides bostrichorum Giraud had a longer pre-oviposition period (5.1 vs. 3.3 days), a greater egg load (8.1 vs. 6.1 eggs), survived longer and emerged later than the pteromalid Rhopalicus tutela (Walker). In contrast, R. tutela was autogenous and tended to be more fecund under constrained conditions (9.7 vs. 5.1 total offspring per female). The longer pre-oviposition period of the specialist C. bostrichorum, coupled with its greater longevity, afforded the opportunity of better synchronization of ovipositing females with late instar larvae of I.
[Show full text]
Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia)
This is a Pre-Review Version of This Factsheet - An Update Will Be Available When Reviews Are Complete The Asian Giant hornet (AGH) or Japanese giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, recently found in Brit- ish Columbia, Canada, and in Washington State, poses a significant threat to European honey bee (EHB), Apis mellifera, colonies and is a public health issue. The AGH is the world’s largest species of hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia low mountains and forests. The hornet is well adapted to conditions in the Pacific Northwest. If this hornet becomes established, it will have a severe and damaging impact on the honey bee pop- ulation, the beekeeping industry, the environment, public health, and the economy. It is critical that we identify, trap, and attempt to eliminate this new pest before it becomes established and wide- spread. Attempts to contain the spread and eradication of this invasive insect will be most effective Vespa mandarinia japonica from Taraba- in trapping queens during early spring before their nests become established. gani - Wikimedia commons It is critical these actions are taken before the fall reproductive and dispersal phase of the hornet. What is a hornet? Beekeepers in the field are the most crucial line of defense in locating, identifying, and trapping the A hornet is simply a large wasp. Generally, wasps hornets. Yet, everyone should be on the lookout for the hornets and report any sightings to local of the class or genus know as Vespa are consid- authorities and the Washington Department of Agriculture. ered hornets. Interestingly, there are no true hor- Here we cover how the AGH will impact the honey bee, give the reader a better understanding of nets (Vespa) native to North America.
[Show full text]
A Guide to Arthropods Bandelier National Monument
A Guide to Arthropods Bandelier National Monument Top left: Melanoplus akinus Top right: Vanessa cardui Bottom left: Elodes sp. Bottom right: Wolf Spider (Family Lycosidae) by David Lightfoot Compiled by Theresa Murphy Nov 2012 In collaboration with Collin Haffey, Craig Allen, David Lightfoot, Sandra Brantley and Kay Beeley WHAT ARE ARTHROPODS? And why are they important? What’s the difference between Arthropods and Insects? Most of this guide is comprised of insects. These are animals that have three body segments- head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of legs, and usually have wings, although there are several wingless forms of insects. Insects are of the Class Insecta and they make up the largest class of the phylum called Arthropoda (arthropods). However, the phylum Arthopoda includes other groups as well including Crustacea (crabs, lobsters, shrimps, barnacles, etc.), Myriapoda (millipedes, centipedes, etc.) and Arachnida (scorpions, king crabs, spiders, mites, ticks, etc.). Arthropods including insects and all other animals in this phylum are characterized as animals with a tough outer exoskeleton or body-shell and flexible jointed limbs that allow the animal to move. Although this guide is comprised mostly of insects, some members of the Myriapoda and Arachnida can also be found here. Remember they are all arthropods but only some of them are true ‘insects’. Entomologist - A scientist who focuses on the study of insects! What’s bugging entomologists? Although we tend to call all insects ‘bugs’ according to entomology a ‘true bug’ must be of the Order Hemiptera. So what exactly makes an insect a bug? Insects in the order Hemiptera have sucking, beak-like mouthparts, which are tucked under their “chin” when Metallic Green Bee (Agapostemon sp.) not in use.
[Show full text]
Comparative Morphology of the Stinger in Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
insects Article Comparative Morphology of the Stinger in Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Mario Bissessarsingh 1,2 and Christopher K. Starr 1,* 1 Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; [email protected] 2 San Fernando East Secondary School, Pleasantville, Trinidad and Tobago * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: Both solitary and social wasps have a fully functional venom apparatus and can deliver painful stings, which they do in self-defense. However, solitary wasps sting in subduing prey, while social wasps do so in defense of the colony. The structure of the stinger is remarkably uniform across the large family that comprises both solitary and social species. The most notable source of variation is in the number and strength of barbs at the tips of the slender sting lancets that penetrate the wound in stinging. These are more numerous and robust in New World social species with very large colonies, so that in stinging human skin they often cannot be withdrawn, leading to sting autotomy, which is fatal to the wasp. This phenomenon is well-known from honey bees. Abstract: The physical features of the stinger are compared in 51 species of vespid wasps: 4 eumenines and zethines, 2 stenogastrines, 16 independent-founding polistines, 13 swarm-founding New World polistines, and 16 vespines. The overall structure of the stinger is remarkably uniform within the family. Although the wasps show a broad range in body size and social habits, the central part of Citation: Bissessarsingh, M.; Starr, the venom-delivery apparatus—the sting shaft—varies only to a modest extent in length relative to C.K.
[Show full text]