By Wendy Leonard, Natural Preserve Officer

It is hard to think of a creature that is more formidable than a tarantula, but the tarantula hawk wasp fits that profile. 

Packing a wallop that is supposed to be one of the most painful stings in the insect world, the tarantula hawk rarely stings humans. Rather, it seeks, paralyzes, and parasitizes tarantulas. A member of the Pepsis genus, the female tarantula hawk does not actually eat the spider, rather she lays just one egg on the spider that will then turn into a larva that slowly devours the spider. 

The battle between wasp and spider is nothing short of amazing. According to invertebrate biologist Ben Hutchins with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the wasp will approach and retreat several times before she gets underneath the tarantula and flips it over. The female wasps will then sting the tarantula usually between the joints of the legs where there is a slight space in body armor. 

Once the spider is paralyzed, the wasp will drag the tarantula, sometimes eight times her body weight, to a dugout burrow where she will lay a single egg on the spider. She then seals up the tunnel, leaving her larvae to slowly eat the still alive but paralyzed spider. The larvae eat the nonessential parts of the tarantula first, keeping it alive possibly for weeks. 

Perhaps one of the most amazing characteristics of the tarantula hawk wasp is that she chooses the sex of her young based on the size of the tarantula. Because the female wasps are bigger and the larvae need more food, the wasp will lay female eggs on large tarantulas and male wasp eggs on smaller tarantulas. An amazing adaptation for a truly amazing creature. So, the next time you are out for a stroll in the park, keep your eyes open for this bold and fearless wasp.