Tarantula Hawk Wasps
Author: Ray Bowers
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|Species: Pogonomyremex rugosus|
These large wasps have a velvety blue black body that is from 12 to 40mm (0.5 to 1.5in) long. The head has mouthparts modified into a tongue-like structure, large eyes, and large antennae. The thorax has four red orange membranous wings, and long strong legs. There is a narrow connection between the thorax and abdomen. The abdomen of the female has a sting, which evolved from an egg laying organ.
The tarantula hawk wasp is found across most of the Southwest down into Mexico.
The tarantula hawk wasp is found in a variety of desert habitats such as shrub lands, grasslands, and arroyos. They are often seen around flowers or running around on the ground.
The adult feeds on nectar found in the flowers from a variety of desert plants. The larva feed on a tarantula that the female has paralyzed and provided.
Reproduction and Development:
Mating occurs around flowers where the males and females feed. The eggs are deposited on a paralyzed tarantula that the female has stung and placed in a burrow. The grub-like larva feed on the tarantula. They next spin a golden colored cocoon around themselves and go into a resting stage. They emerge from this resting stage as adults.
The tarantula hawk wasp is diurnal, but its prey is nocturnal; so most hunting occurs at dusk. During the day they spend most of their time feeding around flowers. After mating the female will search for a tarantula. This may involve finding a roaming male tarantula or a tarantula'sburrow. The female locates the tarantula burrows by using her sense of smell as she runs around on the ground. When a burrow is found she will sometimes touch the silk around the burrow entrance to entice the tarantula to come out of the burrow. The female must now sting the tarantula between the legs on the underside of the spider. She may use the tarantula's burrow or drag the paralyzed tarantula to a burrow she has made. She will next deposit eggs on the tarantula. The female may also use the venom in the sting as a defensive weapon.
The adults feed on nectar and in the process help pollinate the plants they visit. The female is one of the predators of tarantulas. Predators that can catch them also prey upon the tarantula hawk wasps.
Species: Pepsis chrysthemis
Borror, Donald J. and Richard E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects of America North of Mexico. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Borror, Donald J., Charles A. Triplehorn, and Norman F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co.
Bland, Roger G and H. E. Jaques.1978. How to Know Insects. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co.
Larson, Peggy and Lane Larson. 1977. The Deserts of the Southwest. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books.
MacMahon. James A.1985. Deserts. New York : Alfred A Knopf, Inc.
Werner, Floyd and Carl Olson. 1994. Insects of the Southwest. Fisher Books, LLC.
Related Terms: Hexapoda, Insects