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TARANTULA HAWK TARANTULA HAWK TARANTULA HAWK TARANTULA HAWK

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

TARANTULA HAWK TARANTULA HAWK

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- long 6.Thorax TARANTULA HAWK 1.Antenna- long 6.Thorax TARANTULA HAWK
2.Eyes- 2 7.Petiole 6 2.Eyes- 2 7.Petiole 6
3.Head 8.Abdomen- long 5 3.Head 8.Abdomen- long 5
4.Legs- 6 9.Color-dark bluish body, 4.Legs- 6 9.Color-dark bluish body,
5.Wings- long, brightly colored reddish brown wings 5.Wings- long, brightly colored reddish brown wings
10.Other- have stinger 3 10.Other- have stinger 3
Life Cycle Life Cycle
The female creates a burrow, goes out and captures a spider, brings it 8 The female creates a burrow, goes out and captures a spider, brings it 8
back, lays an egg on it, and seals off the burrow. The egg hatches and back, lays an egg on it, and seals off the burrow. The egg hatches and
the larva has a supply of food until the young tarantula hawk is ready to 4 the larva has a supply of food until the young tarantula hawk is ready to 4
emerge. The adult tarantula hawks feed upon plant nectars. emerge. The adult tarantula hawks feed upon plant nectars.
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
TARANTULA HAWK Actual size 2” TARANTULA HAWK Actual size 2”

These are actually wasps that prey upon tarantulas and trapdoor spiders. They will fight a These are actually wasps that prey upon tarantulas and trapdoor spiders. They will fight a
fierce battle, using a stinger that will paralyze the spider. They are black with red or brown fierce battle, using a stinger that will paralyze the spider. They are black with red or brown
wings, and are almost two inches long. They are some of the largest of wasps, and the sting is wings, and are almost two inches long. They are some of the largest of wasps, and the sting is
quite painful when people experience it. quite painful when people experience it.

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