Spider Wasps

Spiders Are Afraid of these Spider Wasps

Where are Spider Wasps found?

The spider wasps are those that will prey on spiders and feed them to their young. They are found in all parts of the world and presently there are 4200 species of spider wasps that are known all over the world. In the US alone there are about 290 species of this insect that are found. The scientific classification for these wasps is Pompilidae, Order Hymenopetra. The other insects that are included in this category are bees, ants and other wasps. They are incredible large insects, but can actually be smaller than the insects on which they prey.

How these wasps hunt the spiders?

These wasps are usually black, reddish brown or metallic blue in color and can measure 1-5 cms long. Their wings bear the colors smoky grey or an orangish reddish color. They have longer legs than other wasps and this is what distinguishes them from other wasps. When hunting and foraging for their prey, the spider, they can be seen in bush undergrowth or on inhospitable terrains. There antennae will be tapping the ground to pick up the vibrations of the spider. When it does spot the spider, it can quickly overpower the spider. The incredible sting of the wasp will render the spider paralyzed as the sting travels through its central nervous system. However at this point the spider will still be alive.

The spiders are food for the larvae of the spider wasps

Since the spider is quite big for the spider wasp to carry, it will often break the hind legs of the spider and then suck the blood from the open wounds. It will then place the spider in a nest and then lay the eggs on top of the spider. Only a single egg will be laid on the abdomen of the spider. The size of the spider can also affect whether the larvae will be male or female. If the host is big, then the larvae can become females. The adult wasp will then inspect the larvae and put a lot of dirt on the area to make it look as inconspicuous as possible. When the larvae begin to hatch, they actually feed on the still live spider and will also spin a cocoon around the spider. It will then emerge out of the cocoon the next summer as an adult spider wasp.

Many of the wasp’s species are actually specialist in using the spider’s own burrow for the nest and can even kill the mighty tarantulas. The tarantula hawk spider wasp is quite large and is a metallic blue color looking wasp. They can also be seen on milkweed flowers collecting and drinking nectar. These wasps are known to kill the tarantulas even though the spider is more poisonous and has fangs and is even bigger than the wasps.

Differentiating between the male and the female wasp

The differentiation between the males and the females is primarily of the size and the females are longer. Whether the larvae is male or female can be seen further by physical examination. Its is actually the female spider that will paralyze the spider with it’s sting and then take it as food for the larvae that will grow out of the egg that she lays on top of the spider’s abdomen.


Spiders are actually scared of these wasps

While the spiders have other predators as well that include humans, the Spider wasps will ruthlessly hunt them down and use the spiders as food for their hungry larvae. However the adult’s wasps will only drink nectar from the flowers.

They are usually seen in the summers

These wasps are quite a common sight during the summer months in both the Northern and the southern hemisphere. In most cases, they can be seen dragging the spiders along the ground as they are too heavy to fly with. They will usually fly and walk in jerky motions and are extremely restless insects also. These wasps will look for all species of spiders to paralyze and use as food for their larvae.

These are solitary creatures and don’t build a nest or colony unlike other bees and wasps.

Cheers,
Trubad Hassan
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