With Halloween right around the corner, there is no better time to spotlight the tarantula hawk! With one of the most painful stings on the planet and elite hunting skills, the tarantula hawk can be a scary sight, for insects and humans alike.
If you’ve spent time on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you may have come across the tarantula hawk. They are characterized by their dark blue, iridescent bodies, bright orange wings and long legs. While they might look fun and festive for the spooky season, these are not insects you want to go to a Halloween party with. The tarantula hawk is ranked as providing one of the most painful stings on the planet, even for humans! Although they will not sting unless provoked, please be alert the next time you are out on the Landmarks.
If you’ve spent time on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you may have come across the tarantula hawk. They are characterized by their dark blue, iridescent bodies, bright orange wings and long legs. While they might look fun and festive for the spooky season, these are not insects you want to go to a Halloween party with. The tarantula hawk is ranked as providing one of the most painful stings on the planet, even for humans! Although they will not sting unless provoked, please be alert the next time you are out on the Landmarks.
The tarantula hawk is also known for their elite hunting skills. They get their name because they are a species of spider wasp that preys on tarantulas, a spider considerably larger than them, and always wins. There has been no documentation of a tarantula killing a wasp. Only adult females hunt tarantulas as food for their offspring. While males do not have stingers, females have a quarter-inch stinger that injects venom and permanently paralyzes tarantulas. Once paralyzed, the female will then transport the spider back to the hawk's nest to a prepared burrow. The female will then lay an egg on the spider's abdomen. Once the egg hatches, the larva will feed on the still-living spider for several weeks, avoiding vital organs to keep the spider alive until the larva grows into an adult wasp. Once adults, tarantula hawks solely feed on the nectar of flowers. Both males and females feed on the flowers of milkweeds, western soapberry trees or mesquite trees.
These wasps are found in every continent in the world except for Europe and Antarctica. In the United States, they are found in the deserts of the southwest and throughout the Landmarks.
While the tarantula hawk makes the biggest spider run away in terror, they really are not a threat to humans. Tarantula hawks live docile, solitary lives. If you see one on the Landmarks just be sure to admire their size and colors from a safe distance.
For more information on local insects and wildlife around the Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
These wasps are found in every continent in the world except for Europe and Antarctica. In the United States, they are found in the deserts of the southwest and throughout the Landmarks.
While the tarantula hawk makes the biggest spider run away in terror, they really are not a threat to humans. Tarantula hawks live docile, solitary lives. If you see one on the Landmarks just be sure to admire their size and colors from a safe distance.
For more information on local insects and wildlife around the Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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