Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 10606735

Eastern Tawny-horned Spider Wasp

Entypus unifasciatus

Also known as Yellow-horned Spider Wasp, One-banded Spider Hunter

One-banded spider wasps are formidable solitary hunters that patrol open fields and sunny soil patches in search of large wolf spiders. Females paralyze arachnid prey with a precise venomous sting before dragging the spider backward into an underground chamber to feed a single larva. Adults feed harmlessly on flower nectar, serving as incidental pollinators while keeping ground spider populations in check.

Solitary WaspSpider HunterPollinator
Eastern Tawny-horned Spider Wasp reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Wolf Spiders
  • Nursery Web Spiders
  • Flower Nectar
Predators
  • Birds
  • Robber Flies
  • Small Mammals
ThreatsPesticide application and conversion of open fields to intensive development
HabitatsMeadows, grasslands, forest edges, and sandy or bare soil patches
Life span1–2 months as adults
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilyPompilidae
  3. GenusEntypus
  4. SpeciesEntypus unifasciatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Females can deliver a severe sting if pinched or stepped on; give them space.
Why it is dangerous
Females possess a potent sting engineered to immobilize heavy prey, causing immediate intense localized pain in humans.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by the large dark body, prominent orange-yellow antennae, and smoky amber-tinted wings.
What to do
Do not attempt to touch or catch by hand; back away if a wasp circles defensively.
Responsible observation
  • Give Space While Hunting: Watch females from a few feet away as they dig burrows or drag immobilized spiders.
  • Avoid Stepping on Bare Soil: Look closely at ground nesting sites in summer to avoid stepping on resting wasps.
Related species
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