Beware of the dreaded red velvet 'cow killer' ant in East Texas

[lightman]

I'm glad She was not injured more seriously. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

[Winger Ed.]

I'm glad She was not injured more seriously. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

Well, she's usually pretty scrappy, but she's hurt bad enough I think I can take her now.
I have reach, but she's always been quicker.

[45workhorse]

Well, she's usually pretty scrappy, but she's hurt bad enough I think I can take her now.
I have reach, but she's always been quicker.

Easy now, we don't need both of you hurt!

[rockrat]

Glad she is doing better.

Now I know what might have bit/stung me many a decade ago. Was at a farm auction and noticed something not far from my foot, big and reddish in color. Auctioneer got started again and so I turned my head to watch. About a minute later, on the inside of my right knee I felt something like a knife stick. Grabbed my jeans and felt something under the material at the knee and grabbed it and applied pressure. Hard. Felt some thing "pop" and shook it out of my pants leg. Didn't see what came out,cause I was too focused on the hurt.

[gbrown]

I hope Mrs. Winger-Ed has a quick recovery. I got hit by one while working on a pipeline in East Texas. On the left arm. It felt much worse than a wasp. A shooting pain down it and then numbness in the hand for about 30 minutes. Stay away from those puppies.

[45DUDE]

I have seen them since grade school. I'm 77 and seen maybe 6 or 7 today. I don't kill them. If they don't bother me I don't bother them. They look like a jacked up hot rod and always by themselves.

[Thundarstick]

Isn't it cool how nearly anything dangerous is dressed in daylight hunter orange!

[georgerkahn]

I sure believe and relate to that.,
As a kid-- 4-maybe 5, I got hit on the head and had a concussion. I've been 100% (nerve) deaf in my left ear ever since.
It's a injury that there is no fixing. Your ear becomes like a microphone that had its wire to the amplifier cut.

My parents, residing not too distant from New York City, engaged several top-notch otolaryngologists and neurotologists shortly after her fall, all to no avail. One specialist did say, however, that "there have been people who will -- even after several years -- wake up again, hearing!". 'Twas not the case with my mater, but my prayers, too, now include you!
From (so I 'blame it' ) being the piano player in a band for years -- sandwiched between the electric bass to my left, and the drumset to my right, the level of hearing in my left year is ever so greatly reduced than the right. This creates a whole different realm of challenges -- someone will yell, "Hey Geo" and I'll look in a totally different direction from where they are...
BEST to you and you wife!
geo

[Ohio Rusty]

I hope all goes perfectly with your better half's recovery. Maybe she can help you at the reloading bench with the good arm ?? I guess you'll need to take over for a while making cookies. Prayers sent her way ....
Ohio Rusty ><>

[Rapier]

Being red-orange and birds do not touch them. That tells you all you really need to know. But the venom in the sting stops the blood and causes a large white welp with a large red hole in the middle. I pushed on one by accident while wearing a lether glove, it stung me right through the glove. It got me a good lick. I leave them alone. We have a tree farm and they are all over the place.
I tell visitors, do not pick up the red furry ant. Of course the grandson that gets into trouble regularly, comes into the house screaming holding his hand. Let me see your hand, one finger is white with the hole in the middle. Mom goes ballistic, just hang on, lets get some ice, it will ease off, in a bit, but it will hurt bad for a while. Bet he will not pick up another one.

[Bmi48219]

I've never tested that hypothesis!

From what I’ve read the males have wings, females don’t.

[Winger Ed.]

the level of hearing in my left year is ever so greatly reduced than the right. This creates a whole different realm of challenges -- someone will yell, "Hey Geo" and I'll look in a totally different direction from where they are.

Oh yeah. With total loss in one ear, I still hear more or less fairly well even after being around a lot of jet engines.
But if I hear a sound, I have no clue what direction it came from.
And if there is much back ground noise, I can't pick out lesser sounds from it and conversation gets drowned out.

When I miss things people don't think I should- I remind them that my world is a simple, and rather quiet place.

[Winger Ed.]

Well, we're into week #3.

Mrs. Winger told me that since I was doing so well with helping her with everything-
I should reward myself and buy another gun.

I thought that was pretty cool.

[Rooster]

As a kid I got one of those skewered on a hook. I floated two nice sized fish before that cow killer had had enough and straightened out the barb and threw it back at me on shore. Never got enough nerve up to try and rebait a new hook with one. I decided to stick with the crickets I had brought with me. Seriously though, it did stun/kill a couple before I lost it. Impressed me with their ability.