Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linneaus) is possibly North America’s most recognizable velvet ant.  This species is widespread in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.  Three closely related species have overlapping or neighboring ranges with D. occidentalis; D. calorata Mickel and D. clotho (Blake) are restricted to the southern Great Plains, while D. klugii (Gray) ranges throughout the western Great Plains and west into Arizona and Utah.  These four species are typically separated based on setal color patterns and a few minor differences in punctation.  Using DNA sequences of the species-specific loci 1^st and 2^nd internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 & ITS2) and additional morphological characters, we provide evidence that this complex is possibly a single, widespread species.  Implications for other species that are diagnosed by coloration are discussed.