Hemipepsis ustulata is a species of tarantula hawk wasp native to the Southwestern United States. Tarantula hawks are a large, conspicuous family of long-legged wasps that prey on tarantulas by using their long legs to grapple with their prey and then paralyze them with a powerful sting (ranked as one of the most painful in the insect world by the Schmidt sting pain index). They are solitary, displaying lekking territorial behavior in their mating rituals.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Flamed Tarantula-hawk Wasp being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Calopompilus pyrrhomelas
- Pepsis thisbe
- Pepsis grossa
- Sphex tepanecus
- Pepsis chrysothemis
- Pepsis pallidolimbata
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Pompilidae
- Genus
- Hemipepsis
- Species
- Hemipepsis ustulata
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