Tarantula Hawk Wasp Has the 2nd Most Painful Bug Sting in the World–but Tarantulas Get It Worse

Tarantula Hawk Wasp Has the 2nd Most Painful Bug Sting in the World–but Tarantulas Get It Worse
Tom Wurl/Shutterstock
Michael Wing
Updated:

She usually won’t sting you unless provoked, but if she does, you’ll probably wish she hadn’t.

Unlike the name suggests, the tarantula hawk, Pepsis grossa, is neither a spider nor a bird. It is a wasp that gets its name because of the prey females of the species are known for hunting down and carrying off to their burrow: tarantulas.

Michael Wing
Michael Wing
Editor and Writer
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
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