Characteristics: Male and female Tarantula Hawks vary in subtle ways. Male antenna are straight, while their abdomens are segmented into 7 sections. Female antenna are curved with their abdomens segmented into only 6 sections. Tarantula Hawks take on a variety of colors but their orange wings against their darkish bodies set them off. The feed primarily on nectar though the females will actively hunt tarantulas. Tarantula Hawks can deliver a sting that is painful to people but paralyzing to tarantulas. Once paralyzed, the poor and helpless tarantula is brought back to the 'Hawks burrow where it is left with young Tarantula Hawk grubs as food. To further compound the fate of said tarantula, it is then buried alive while still paralyzed and left to the young Tarantula Hawks as nourishment.
General Adult Size (Length): 42mm to 43mm
(1.65in to 1.69in)
Identifying Colors:black; blue; green; orange; red; yellow; brown
North American reach includes (may not be limited to): California; Arizona; New Mexico; Texas
Category:Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar Common Name: Tarantula Hawk Scientific Name: (Pepsisspecies)
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Pompilidae Genus: Pepsis Species: species
Kingdom: Animalia
