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Tarantula Hawk A large wasp that feeds on nectar, but uses tarantulas as a host for its young. Stings and paralyzes the tarantula, drags it back to a burrow, lays an egg on it and the larva eats the tarantula alive from the inside. It pupates inside the tarantula, then pops out as an adult. Wow! Bad day for a tarantula. By the way, very very painful sting! Geotagged,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge

Tarantula Hawk

A large wasp that feeds on nectar, but uses tarantulas as a host for its young. Stings and paralyzes the tarantula, drags it back to a burrow, lays an egg on it and the larva eats the tarantula alive from the inside. It pupates inside the tarantula, then pops out as an adult. Wow! Bad day for a tarantula. By the way, very very painful sting!

    comments (7)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Thom, from Wikipedia: "Tarantula hawks belong to any of the many species in the genera Pepsis and Hemipepsis in the family Pompilidae (spider wasps)."

    Sorry, that means it is not specific enough, we need to know the exact species for identification. Great find though!     Posted 10 years ago
    1. View Thom_Morris's profile
      Thom_Morris
      Giant Tortoise
      View Giant Tortoise class
      I'll see what I can do. Posted 10 years ago
  3. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    By the way, can you please set the country? Posted 10 years ago
  4. View WildFlower's profile
    WildFlower
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Do you have a top view of the wings? Posted 10 years ago
    1. View Thom_Morris's profile
      Thom_Morris
      Giant Tortoise
      View Giant Tortoise class
      I'll see what I can do to get a better view.
       Posted 10 years ago
      1. View Thom_Morris's profile
        Thom_Morris
        Giant Tortoise
        View Giant Tortoise class
        I'll upload a shot that gives a better view of the wings (though still not great. They're a little ragged so it's hard to tell if the tips are dark or light. Several other features point to this being a female Pepsis Pallidolimbata. Let me know what you think. Posted 10 years ago
        1. View WildFlower's profile
          WildFlower
          Lion
          View Lion class
          The venation pattern is not very clear on that one either. It is blueish so it is most likely a Pepsis sp.
          Which other features do you mean and which references did you use?

          There is a very extensive study in 3 parts about this genus. The species you suggest are described in part 1.
          http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/46285
          http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/46718
          http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/42157

          This is a list of the species found in California, but that doesn't help much.
          http://www.insects.ucr.edu/ebeling/ebel9-2.html#tarantula%20hawks           Posted 10 years ago

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By Thom_Morris

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Uploaded May 30, 2015. Captured May 24, 2015 12:20 in 43199 Vía Escalon, Murrieta, CA 92562, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • NIKON D610
  • f/6.3
  • 1/640s
  • ISO400
  • 85mm