A velvet ant, is actually a wasp, but I found this one today which is a species I hadn't seen before, thought you guys might like to take a gander at it. Based on briefly looking around I think it's Nemka viduata if that interests you. My sister found it crawling up the pantry door frame.
To those who might not know from what I've heard previously, one good way to tell ants from other insects is by their antennae, ants have elbow shaped antennae. It's shape doesn't really make sense for it to be an ant either when I closely looked at it, the big thorax and the pointed abdomen and big head. Not to mention I don't think I've seen ants 'this' hairy. Also it waggles its antennae like crazy.
Enjoy!
Sorry if they're not the best pictures.
I have it in a test tube, but I don't plan on keeping it.