They absolutely do NOT only attack tarantulas. They will sting the ever living fuck out of you, and have one of the most painful stings of any insect on the planet.
I have been stung by one and it hurts like a mother fucker.
Those wasps are dead. They don’t just chill like that.
Dang can I ask what you were doing when you got stung? Also what was that like? That’s supposed to be like one of the most painful things ever!
We have them where I live (tho it’s pretty rare to actually see them out and about) but it’s pretty hard to get them to sting you here. You have to basically accidentally squish it or something
I was pulling a calf out of a momma cow in the field. I’m guessing her stomping around had already pissed it off since they burrow in the ground. Thing came out of nowhere and got me in the side of the neck lol. It was excruciating. Felt like I got stabbed in the throat.
I also got stung by a cow killer/velvet ant/ground hornet as a teenager by being a dumbass. That one hurt like hell too.
I was hiking one time outside and saw what looked like a wounded mouse slowly limping across the trail or something. When I got closer it was one of these dudes dragging a tarantula to its burrow! It was like living thru a planet earth scene or something. I never thought I’d ever get to see that in person!
It makes me very sad. I love wasps. I like to imagine them as placid enough as to be able to be in that situation, and I really want that picture to be real.
We get these:
Tarantula Hawk Wasps. Fortunately, they only attack tarantulas, unless you antagonize them.
They absolutely do NOT only attack tarantulas. They will sting the ever living fuck out of you, and have one of the most painful stings of any insect on the planet.
I have been stung by one and it hurts like a mother fucker.
Those wasps are dead. They don’t just chill like that.
Dang can I ask what you were doing when you got stung? Also what was that like? That’s supposed to be like one of the most painful things ever!
We have them where I live (tho it’s pretty rare to actually see them out and about) but it’s pretty hard to get them to sting you here. You have to basically accidentally squish it or something
I was pulling a calf out of a momma cow in the field. I’m guessing her stomping around had already pissed it off since they burrow in the ground. Thing came out of nowhere and got me in the side of the neck lol. It was excruciating. Felt like I got stabbed in the throat.
I also got stung by a cow killer/velvet ant/ground hornet as a teenager by being a dumbass. That one hurt like hell too.
Fucking Cazadores, the bane of any new vegas run
I was thinking Novistadors.
I was hiking one time outside and saw what looked like a wounded mouse slowly limping across the trail or something. When I got closer it was one of these dudes dragging a tarantula to its burrow! It was like living thru a planet earth scene or something. I never thought I’d ever get to see that in person!
They’re beautiful!
The bright golden wings contrasted with the black body is very striking. I take a minute to admire them when I see one.
I suppose they’re better than tarantulas… Ugh
Tarantulas are wonderful little creatures. I’d have one as a pet, but I don’t think they should be kept as pets.
Some are kept as pets but people should be informed about what it takes for a tarantula to be kept as a pet and should be informed about that
are they going to be okay?? they seem a little stiff
I showed this exact pic to my students and they were convinced all the wasps are dead.
I think they’re dead, too. They don’t just hang out with legs splayed and wings extended. But it shows how big they are, so I picked this image.
It makes me very sad. I love wasps. I like to imagine them as placid enough as to be able to be in that situation, and I really want that picture to be real.