Orange, furry stinging “beetle” in Mojave desert, California.
October 1, 2009
I live in Lancaster, California in the high desert. One day while working outdoors I saw a furry orange insect about an inch long. It resembled a large furry ant or wingless bee and ran very quickly. I tried to pick it up using my handkerchief as padding and it stung me right through the cloth. The pain was excruciating but only lasted a few minutes. Subsequent examination showed that the bug had a black stinger perhaps 1/4″ long. It’s been a few months and I do not have pictures. I seem to recall the bug had some black too, but the furry part was bright orange.
The picture attached is NOT the bug in question, I just needed an image in order to ask this question.
Mike from the F.A.A.
Lancaster, California
Hi Mike,
We are sorry to hear you have been stung by a Velvet Ant because the sting is reported to be extremely painful. Velvet Ants are flightless female wasps.
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I was disappointed because this woman’s description said her bug was furry. These don’t look furrry at all. I saw a very furry little thing running very quickly away from me in the Mojave Desert. I shot a photo, but it isn’t great. It had a furry yellow behind and the body was furry also.
Not like the one above at all!
Some Velvet Ants are furrier than others. This Velvet Ant would be described as furry while this Velvet Ant might not.