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Project Noah Nature School
Pepsis formosa or Pepsis thisbe
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.
Desert scrub/chaparral
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?
Spotted on Sep 15, 2011
Submitted on Sep 15, 2011
4 Comments
Hi Bill, Please consider adding this spotting to the Wasps of Southern California Mission, Thanks. http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1244...
Hi Bill, I created a Southern California Wildlife Mission! You can submit your spottings there! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/7964...
Thanks!
Super spotting...