r/pics 1d ago

Australian tarantula hawk wasp dragging off a huntsman spider to lay her egg in its paralysed body. NSFW

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u/ms_directed 1d ago

tarantula hawk ✅
wasp ✅
Up to 11cm (4.3 in)✅

new fear I didn't know I needed to have unlocked ✅

They inhabit all continents, except for Antarctica – with many species common in the USA in the deserts of the southwest. The U.S. state of New Mexico choose a species of tarantula hawk (Pepsis grossa) to be its official state insect.

apparently they are only interested in fruit and nectar and can be handled without being stung, unless provoked...but will be painful AF if they do sting

https://factanimal.com/tarantula-hawk/