Cow Killer
Dasymutilla occidentalis
The "Cow Killer" Myth
They don't actually kill cows! The name comes from the incredible intensity of their sting, which is so painful that people once joked it "could kill a cow."
The World's Longest Stinger
Relative to their body size, they have an incredibly long, flexible stinger. It is nearly half the length of their abdomen and can be aimed in almost any direction.
Fast and Furious
On the ground, Cow Killers are incredibly fast runners. They move in erratic, zig-zag patterns, making it very difficult for a predator to catch or pin them down.
Field notes
| Range | North America |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Up to 1 year |
| Size | 2 cm to 3 cm (0.75 to 1.2 inches) |
| Weight | Approximately 0.05 g to 0.1 g |
| Colour | Neon Red & Black |
| Diet | Nectar (Adults) / Parasitic (Larvae) |
| Family | One of about 8,000 species in the Mutillidae family |
In the book
The Cow Killer is number 84 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
