Welcome Students,
Become a junior entomologist and discover more about one of the most "unfriendly" insects around, belonging to the Order Hymenoptera, the Family Pompilidae and the Gensis Pepsis.
Yes, it is a type of parasitic wasp .
Description: Sometimes referred to as "Tarantula Hawk", this little "mother" has a 2" long blue-black body with rust colored wings. The expecting female uses her stinger to inject a paralyzing venom into a selected host such as a caterpillar. After paralyzing the caterpillar, she then deposits her eggs into the it. Once the eggs hatch and become larvae, the females (daughters) begin to eat the males (their brothers). Later, the survivors begin to eat their way out of the unsuspecting caterpillar. The "soon to be dead" caterpillar then becomes a substantial meal for the little wasps. Pretty special, huh?
Geographic Location: In the United States, these wasps can be found as far north as Phoenix, Arizona.
Check out the award winning blog, showing this gruesome process. Go to tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2009/05/parasitic-wasp-larvae-and-caterpillar.html.
www.msnbc.msncom/id/18204014/ See Live Science posting- April 19, 2007
