Today we are going to enter the terrifying world of the spider wasp. If you thought either of these creatures were scary on there own, you had better bet a wasp that specializes in killing spiders is even scarier. The thing that differentiates the spider wasp from most other predators is the extra horrifying method it uses to hunt down its prey, which it uses to nourish its growing young.
The tarantula hawk wasp, belonging to the genera Pepsis, is a spider wasp with a sting that is said to be one of most painful ones in the animal kingdom. One entomologist says to just “lie down and scream” and if that doesn’t speak to its potency I don’t know what will! One cannot maintain coordination the pain is so intense. However you had better be glad your not a tarantula.
Spiders, contrary to popular belief, are prey as much as predators and hawk wasps are one of their more sinister predators. Tarantula Hawk wasps are diurnal and feed upon nectar, berry juice and other such foods. However after mating the female will search for the burrow of a tarantula. She will find a burrow of a tarantula and may entice the spider out by touching the silk. When the spider is out she stings it and the venom quickly paralyzes the spider. She drags the victim to her burrow and lays a single egg which will eventually hatch leaving the tarantula to its ultimate demise. The larvae feeds on its innards for about a month until finally the wasp emerges from the tarantula. Then the cycle repeats itself. Thank you reading and I hope you learned all about the tarantula hawk wasp.
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