WTF is this thing?

killstew said:
Did you really know that or did you google it?
Click to expand...

I see I wasn't the only one that that impressed the shit out of...

I do know one thing, if there were ants that big in my front yard I'd either call the exterminator, the Army, or have a LOT of backyard parties. You Texas people got some big, nasty bugs.
 
Necrodamus said:
It could be a wingless wasp, otherwise known as a velvet ant or "cow-killer" ant. They can vary in color from brownish red to red and black.
lay it on a piece of paper and hold it down with a pencil, if its a wingless wasp you will see a stinger extend out of its butt by about 1/4".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutillidae
Click to expand...

Dead on that is it... Cow ants are not ants they are wingless wasp and hurt like hell..:D
 
LupaWolf said:
hey there leatherman!! wanna come over for ant surprise?
Click to expand...

Now I'm hungry again! And I just at breakfast! :o

All those Zimmern shows have rotted my brain.....
 
texastonydobbs said:


Dead on that is it... Cow ants are not ants they are wingless wasp and hurt like hell..:D
Click to expand...

Two problems, cow ants are semi solitary, and they have fuzzy bodies. The little beastie in that jar is nekkid.

I used to play with those fuzzy monsters as a kid, not realizing what they could do to me. :eek:
 
Muras said:
Atta sexdens rubropilosa is the scientific name.

The ant is called "sauva" in portuguese (Brazil). It is abundant in South America and is a leafcutter ant. The leaves are used as a base to grow a fungus (their real food).
The picture posted above shows a female (huge abdomen and wings) and is popularly known as Issah, Bitu or Tanajura.
It can bite, but does not have a sting. It is not aggressive though. The males can be aggressive when defending the colony.
It is edible. The abdomen is rich in lipids and protein (female carries eggs). The ants are collected by kids, then the abdomen is detached, fried and cooked with cassava flour. It is considered an unique dish in some parts of Brazil.
Click to expand...

Nice... nice... NICE!!!
 
FYI: A&M confirmed what Muras said this morning.
They said there is only a 1% chance that we will have a successful nesting here.

And yes, we do have some nasty critters here.
 
mistwalker said:
Hmmm, do you think they likely traveled here in cargo or is the warming climate cycle allowing them to migrate? I know insects do migrate but I never saw anything like that when I lived in central Texas.
Click to expand...

I can't say that is the warming. I can say they migrate, since they spread all over Brazil. There are many species of leafcutter ants in South and Central America. It is possible that one of them ended up in Texas.
 
Hey Lisa, am I nuts or did you and I not see one of those running around the pasture the other weekend?

Remember it started a long disscussion about the cowkiller I gave my bosses kid.:D
 
mistwalker said:
Hmmm, do you think they likely traveled here in cargo or is the warming climate cycle allowing them to migrate? I know insects do migrate but I never saw anything like that when I lived in central Texas.
Click to expand...

My guess is all of the above. A warmer and more humid climate, along with the shipping of the ant itself, and the plants and fungus they need to survive. Depending on their home range, migration (or just hopping on an animal or human) is a possibility, but my guess would be that the plant it cuts was shipped north, and they escaped, and either kept with the same plants that have been shipped, or found new ones.

But, that's a big ant. Eat it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top