Back at the start of September I was walking around KWT Oare Marshes Nature Reserve in North Kent with a couple of friends when one spotted this creature running across the path.
I recognised it imediately as one of the velvet ants, the female of a type of solitary wingless wasp.
I had always wanted to see one, and although I glimpsed one in Greece earlier in the year, I didn’t get any half decent photos, so it was nice to get some better ones.
In the US they call them ‘cow killers’ due to the myth about them killing cows with their sting. They do apparently have a nasty sting, though I didn’t provoke her to find out!
This species does not build a nest, but lays its eggs in honey and bumblebee nests where the larvae feed on pupa of these bees. Interestingly those emerging from honey bees nests are smaller than those feedeing on the larger bumblebees. You can find out more on the BWARS website here
Great shot Neil. Had a couple of these at Rainham and they’re worth recording for BEWARS.
Apparently they have a sting that is more painful than wasps!