Insect · GBIF taxon 6128918
Tarantula Hawk
Pepsis grossaAlso known as Spider Wasp, Pepsis Wasp
Tarantula hawks are massive spider wasps easily recognized by their metallic blue-black bodies and contrasting bright orange or dark wings. Females hunt large tarantulas on the ground, paralyzing them with an excruciating sting before dragging them into a burrow to serve as a living food source for a single larva. Adults are surprisingly docile nectar-feeders that spend their days visiting flowers or searching for mates on hilltop trees.
StingingSolitary WaspDesert Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tarantulas
Predators
- Greater Roadrunners
- Bullfrogs
- Kingbirds
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide use, and collection by insect enthusiasts.
HabitatsDeserts, arid shrublands, grasslands, and open woodlands.
Life spanApproximately 1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPompilidae
- SpeciesPepsis grossa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Females deliver an excruciatingly painful sting if handled; observe from a safe distance without disturbing.
- Why it is dangerous
- Females possess a powerful sting that delivers venom causing immediate, debilitating pain rated among the most intense in the insect world.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a very large, metallic blue-black body with bright orange or solid black wings and long, curled antennae.
- What to do
- Never attempt to catch, touch, or corner this wasp; if one flies near you, remain still and let it pass.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Give these wasps plenty of space, especially when they are actively walking on the ground searching for burrows.
- Watch the wings: Look for the characteristic wing-flicking behavior, which indicates the wasp is actively hunting or excited.
- Observe on flowers: Watch adults safely as they docilely feed on milkweed, mesquite, or desert willow blossoms.
Prey (c) Edoro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Edoro · cc-by
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