Animal profile

Tarantula Hawk

InsectaDeserts, scrub and dry grassland where large burrowing spiders occur

Field profile

Tarantula hawks are large spider wasps of the genera Pepsis and Hemipepsis, typically blue-black with rust-coloured wings. Females hunt tarantulas as food for a single offspring. Adults themselves feed on nectar and are frequently seen on milkweed and mesquite flowers.

Published field notes

2023-01-15

Tarantula Hawk

The tarantula hawk paralyses its prey, not kills it

A female stings a tarantula into permanent paralysis, drags it into a burrow and lays one egg on it. The spider stays alive and fresh for weeks while the larva feeds, leaving the vital organs for last.

Read with evidence →