Comments on Nature at Close Range: Velvet Ant - That There is a Wasp

Thanks for the story Anonymous! I saw one outside...

2011-07-14T13:54:48.873-05:00

Thanks for the story Anonymous! I saw one outside and put my hand near it, and my coworker said, "Don't touch that! It is a 'cow killer.'" Your story drove the pain home most vividly. I am a wimp anyway, so if I had that much pain, I probably would be begging for my maker to take me!

Thanks,
Anonymous 2

Hi anonymous- you have lived quite the life. :) ...

2008-08-04T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hi anonymous- you have lived quite the life. :) Personally, I would have thought getting your testicle bit by a dog would be more painful than the sting of a velvet ant- but, if you say so. Thanks for the post.

I have been stung by a velvet ant. I grew up in th...

2008-08-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

I have been stung by a velvet ant. I grew up in the country. Let me tell you: Worst pain I ever felt. I have had my testicle bit by a dog; and it ripped the skin. I've stepped on a 3 inch screw and had it go through my big toe. I've sprained my ankle severly. I've broken my right arm (sitting in the back of a truck, traveling 50 mph; stuck my arm out to knock over a traffic cone). I've shot myself in the leg (from an inch away) with a tipman98 custom paintball gun.

The most pain I have ever felt in my life: The sting of this ant. I saw one, and tried to pick it up with a paper-towel. It stung through the towel; and it hurt so incredibly bad, I don't even know how to explain it.

Hi Steve,

Perfect- you are the right candid...

2007-10-10T18:20:00.000-05:00

Hi Steve,

Perfect- you are the right candidate for testing the relative pain of a Velvet Ant. I will catch one and you can volunteer in the name of science to let it sting you. You can then tell me which was the most painful, the Hornet, the BB gun shot, or the Velvet Ant sting. But I remind you that the Velvet Ant is also known as the Cow Killer because its sting is reported to be so painful! :)

How do you know the sting is so bad? The a...

2007-10-10T08:42:00.000-05:00