Velvet Ant Control

Velvet Ants In Central Texas

The velvet ant is one of the most misunderstood insects in Central Texas, since it is neither an ant nor as deadly as its nickname suggests.

Because velvet ants are solitary wanderers rather than colony insects, they turn up one at a time, and the concern is the sting rather than a nest.

Signs You Have Velvet Ants

Velvet ants are usually seen crossing open ground:

• Bright red, fuzzy “ants” crawling across lawns, driveways, and gardens.
• Solitary insects wandering, with no trail and no colony.
• Activity in summer, when they are most active.
• Ground-nesting bees and wasps nearby, the nests they target.
• A faint squeaking sound when one is disturbed.

Are Velvet Ants Dangerous?

The velvet ant’s claim to fame is its sting. It is famously painful, which is where the “cow killer” name comes from, and the NIH MedlinePlus guide to insect stings covers the reactions and care that apply.

For most people, though, the sting is intensely painful rather than medically dangerous, unless they have a venom allergy. Velvet ants are solitary and do not swarm, so there is no nest to defend, and stings almost always happen when one is stepped on barefoot or picked up.

How We Get Rid of Velvet Ants

Stride treats velvet ants through the five-step Stride Forward process, aimed at the perimeter they wander in from:

1. Inspect. We check lawns and gardens for wandering velvet ants and the ground-nesting hosts they follow.
2. Identify. We confirm velvet ants and rule out true ants and other wasps.
3. Recommend. We point out the ground-nesting bee and wasp activity to address and the harborage to reduce.
4. Treat. We treat the perimeter and harborage, since velvet ants come in from surrounding soil rather than a nest on the property.
5. Evaluate. We monitor, since reducing the host nests they parasitize lowers their numbers over time.

Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.

How to Keep Velvet Ants Away

Keeping velvet ants at a distance is mostly about caution and the perimeter:

• Wear shoes in the yard to avoid a barefoot sting.
• Reduce ground-nesting bee and wasp activity that draws them.
• Keep a treated perimeter around the yard.
• Clear harborage and debris where they shelter.
• Never handle one, since that is when the sting happens.

Velvet Ant Control Frequently Asked Questions

Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.

The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.

Our Certifications & Awards

Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.

Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.