Pepsis thisbe

Tarantula Hawk

Introduction:

The females of this species sport curly antennae, while the males' are straight. Males do not have stingers and females have ones about 7mm (¼ inch) in length. Adults are nectarivores (feeding on flower material), but females hunt tarantulas as food for larvae, hence their name. They are found throughout the American Southwest in desert areas.
Life Cycle:

Size 1.3-2 inches (32-44 mm)
Sexual Dimorphism: yes, females larger with stingers and curved antenna.
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

Insect Data

Names and Taxonomy

Common Names: Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis thisbe, Thisbe's tarantula-hawk wasp
Synonyms:
Order: Hymenoptera (Wasps, Bees, Ants)
Family: Pompilidae (Spider Wasp)
Genus Information: 1 species in NV, 18 in CA, 18 in US especially South Rim and within the Grand Canyon

Distribution

Distribution: AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, UT
Seen: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
Habitat: sandy soil and brush, where tarantulas are known to burrow, or near flowering plants, where tarantula hawks feed on nectar
Food: adults feed on nectar especially from Desert Milkweed (Asclepias subulata)

Photographs

Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis thisbe)

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis thisbe)

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Vocabulary Reference Material

Plants, leaf and flower anatomy is essential to properly classify

Sky Island vegetation biomes

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Get in touch

I am usually out hiking, birding or traveling but you can reach me at:

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