Tarantula Hawk

Photo by Pavel Kirillov on Wikimedia

Pepsis spp
 
Tarantula Hawks are 100% #NatureIsMetal. They are neither tarantulas nor hawks but are actually a species of Spider Wasps. They can be quite large, up to five inches long! They are pollinators and normally dine on nectar, but the mother Wasps find a more morbid source of food for her offspring. She will sting a spider, paralyzing them, then lay her eggs inside the still-living spider, which the hatching larvae will eat from the inside out!
 
Last week, I saw one hauling a massive huntsman spider that was at least twice the Wasp’s size. I went in for a closer look because you don’t see that every day, and the Tarantula Hawk was having none of it. She started chasing me, even landing on my pants at one point. Since they have one of the painful stings in the world, I noped right out of there.
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Tarantula Hawks are found from the Southern US through South America. While I don’t recommend keeping one as a pet, they are actually quite beautiful. They have iridescent blue or black bodies and bright orange or amber wings. I honestly enjoy seeing them, but from a distance!

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