Tarantula hawk

A large spider wasp that hunts tarantulas, paralyzes them with a sting, and uses them as living food for its developing larva.

Pompilidae: A family of wasps whose larvae develop on spiders that adults capture and paralyze. Tarantula hawks belong to this spider-hunting wasp family.
Venom: A toxic secretion delivered by an animal, often through a bite or sting. Venom paralyzes the spider while keeping it alive for the larva.
Pain scale: A system for comparing the intensity of painful experiences. Justin Schmidt included the tarantula hawk sting in his insect-sting comparisons.
Pepsis grossa: A large tarantula hawk wasp species native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is one of the best-known examples of a tarantula hawk.
Tarantula: A large, hairy spider in the family Theraphosidae, found mainly in warm regions. It is the prey that the female wasp subdues and provisions.
Paralysis: The loss of voluntary movement in part or all of an organism's body. The sting disables the tarantula without immediately killing it.
Schmidt sting pain index: A scale ranking the pain of stings from hymenopteran insects, developed by entomologist Justin Schmidt. The tarantula hawk is famous for its exceptionally painful sting on this index.
Pepsis thisbe: A species of tarantula hawk wasp found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It illustrates the diversity of tarantula hawks in the same arid regions.
Wasp sting: A modified egg-laying organ used by female wasps to inject venom or lay eggs. The tarantula hawk's sting delivers venom that immobilizes its prey.
Oviposition: The act of depositing eggs, especially by insects. After securing prey, the female lays an egg on the spider.

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