Categories

Velvet Ant… Not!!!
I loved reading all of the entries on your web page on velvet ants. I was probably in 4th grade, (I won’t tell you how many years ago that was)… and I came across what I now believe to be one of the dreaded Cow Killers. We’d been camping near Mt Palomar in SoCal, and while walking along the dusty road to the little store, I’d stepped on this weird looking bug. Having lifted my foot, I noticed my weight had no effect on this guy… so being the kid that I was, I tired unsuccessfully several times to turn him into miniature road-kill. I couldn’t do it, no matter how hard I tried to stomp him into mush, he (or actually, she) would just get up and start walking again. I was so intrigued by this little gal, I picked her up and carried her with me to the store, where the owner gave me a small jar to put her in. Well, somewhere between the car and home, she escaped, probably though one of the air holes I’d put in the lid. I did later learn in an encyclopedia (no World Wide Web back in 1965) that this was a velvet ant, and as a delicacy to tarantulas, they have a very hard armored exoskeleton. Apparently, I’m very lucky I didn’t get stung. The purpose for my note today, is that I saw the attached photo, and memories being what they are, I instantly thought of the velvet ant again. Well, I realized after a mental refresh, and visiting your web site — that this picture is not even close to being an ant. But, I thought I’d share this with you anyway. Here’s what is NOT a Velvet Ant… but a jumping spider.
Thanks,
Dave Radcliffe

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your anecdotes and also your Jumping Spider photo. We believe it is Phidippus cardinalis which can be found on BugGuide.

0   I like This

Related Posts

• 
  (10/09/2004)
  Jumping Spider
• 
  (07/08/2005)
  Jumping Spider
• 
  (09/04/2005)
  Jumping Spider
• 
  (09/18/2009)
  Jumping Spider, but which one???