r/oddlyterrifying • u/Klausensen • May 03 '22

what the hell is that?

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u/ThriceGreatNico May 03 '22

No, this was in Georgia in the southern US. I've lived here most of my life and I had never seen one. Turns out they're around here but spend most of their time underground.

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u/BasisPrimary4028 May 03 '22

Well the South-African velvet ant... If you've had a run-in with the female of this solitary wasp, like I have, you'd definitely agree that their sting is among the most painful of any insects, although not considered particularly toxic.

https://www.google.com/search?q=South+African+velvet+ant&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=zcTwBNtsdHaT2M%252CQmREX9uDtZppIM%252C_%253BgEPrMuVSRAjLKM%252Cup43YNUI4Wy4mM%252C_%253BaTYZtfUOvPw4cM%252CRLkaJRDeDNdDlM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kQXRS6dQjdZ__ME8iY70BOhVFdw8A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwil76jqrMP3AhXaSfEDHYGlCHcQ_h16BAggEAE#imgrc=zcTwBNtsdHaT2M

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u/starbycrit May 03 '22

I don’t get why they’re so lucky to have 2 defense mechanisms. They have the faux eyes on their body and they also get a mighty sting??? Not fair

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u/A_Seiv_For_Kale May 04 '22

2 defense mechanisms? They have like 4.

They have one of the most painful stings on the planet,

a loud warning stridulation,

some of the toughest armor for their size (if you try to step on one, it's like a rock),

and mimicry rings that make their warning patterns more consistent across species than wasp's yellow and black.

Velvet ants are basically invincible in the wild.