mpmc7gm
Fascinating and horrifying
This is a spider wasp with a Wolf spider. I have not been able to identify what type of spider wasp it is, apparently there are many different types. Here in southern Arizona we have one by the name of Tarantula Wasp, which preys on Tarantulas. They are much larger and have orange wings. The wasp in the photo has stung this spider. When I came across them the wasp was dragging the spider across the ground, heading for her nest. The horrifying part of this story is, the venom of the wasp does not kill the spider, it paralyzes it. After stinging and paralyzing the spider, the wasp drags it to its nest where it lays eggs inside the spider. When the wasp larva hatch inside the spider, they eat it alive. I took this photo at Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert Arizona.
Fascinating and horrifying
This is a spider wasp with a Wolf spider. I have not been able to identify what type of spider wasp it is, apparently there are many different types. Here in southern Arizona we have one by the name of Tarantula Wasp, which preys on Tarantulas. They are much larger and have orange wings. The wasp in the photo has stung this spider. When I came across them the wasp was dragging the spider across the ground, heading for her nest. The horrifying part of this story is, the venom of the wasp does not kill the spider, it paralyzes it. After stinging and paralyzing the spider, the wasp drags it to its nest where it lays eggs inside the spider. When the wasp larva hatch inside the spider, they eat it alive. I took this photo at Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert Arizona.