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Tarantula Hawk

Pepsis formosa or Pepsis thisbe

Photo by Bill Richie
Published on Project Noah
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33.9425, -117.23

Field Notes

Description:

A tarantula hawk is a spider wasp which hunts tarantulas as food for its larvae. Tarantula hawks belong to any of the many species in the genera Pepsis and Hemipepsis in the family Pompilidae (Spider wasps). (from Wikipedia). Purportedly the most painful sting in N. America.

Habitat:

Desert scrub/chaparral

Notes:

I think these things are beautiful and I'm thrilled that there is a flowering bush outside my fence that they can feed on. I caught a couple with a butterfly net and took to my classroom. The kids thought they were pretty cool. I don't know if the pictures I took above were of male or female. Can anyone help me out here?

Reference Links:

Tarantula hawk

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Reza Hashemizadeh
Hi Bill, Please consider adding this spotting to the Wasps of Southern California Mission, Thanks. http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/12446696
CindyBinghamKeiser
Hi Bill, I created a Southern California Wildlife Mission! You can submit your spottings there! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/7964554
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 15, 2011

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