If You See This Bug Flying by You In Texas… Run!!!

We all know everything is bigger in Texas but sometimes it's not for the better. It's starting to cool off here in the Permian Basin, even if it is just slightly. West Texans are beginning to spend a little more time outside. Who wouldn't when the temperature is in the high 80s instead of the 100-plus we are used to?

Recently I was outside with my dog playing catch in my backyard when I noticed a flash of black fly past me to a tree. I was sure I was seeing things but went to investigate. I know what you are thinking, this is how everyone dies in a horror movie, but I had to check it out. It didn't take me long to find a huge black wasp with orange wings on a nearby tree.

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I quickly scooped up my fur baby and flew inside. Once my adrenaline wore off, I needed to do my research on this creature I had never seen before!

THE TARANTULA HAWK

Though the name can be misleading this insect is a wasp. I was not exaggerating when I said this insect was HUGE! The tarantula hawk grows an average size of 2 inches. The wasp gets its name because it uses hunts and uses tarantulas to lay its larvae in. As the larvae grow they slowly eat the tarantula from the inside, avoiding major organs so the spider can live longer.

IS IT DANGEROUS?

Unfortunately, the tarantula hawk packs quite a sting! The stinger of a female can grow to be 12 millimeters long. The good news is that the sting is not dangerous, just extremely painful. Even better is the tarantula hawk is a pretty docile wasp. They are most likely not to sting unless provoked.

One thing I will say is I don't care how docile they say the tarantula hawk wasp is, I will not try to test that theory. I will watch it from afar, thank you!