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The Great

Tarantula Hawk Wasp

I guess I can call it a flying insect, it has 6 legs

It is found from California to Mexico.

Size 1/4 inch to 3/4 inches, however this one is much larger.
The books say a much larger species can be found in the southwest & Arizona is in the southwest.

This wasp stings the Taratula spider between it legs paralizing it, then lays an egg inside of it, drags it into its hole, closes the entrance. The wasp larva then feeds on the spider.

I photographed this wasp northwest of Aguila Arizona.

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As you can now see this one is bigger than a 1/4 or 3/4 of an inch.

Since it stings between the legs I think I had better use some extra heavy duty OFF spray, "you know where".
In photographing it with my Nikon 5000 Coolpic camera it did get on my arm once.
I think it was after my perspiration droplets that were on the arm. I was hoping if I didn't bother it, it would not sting me & it didn't.
I could however feel its legs gripping on the skin and if you look at the photos you can see the grippers on its legs.

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Taking these images was sure an adrenaline rush.

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My what big eyes you have mis wasp.

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I wanted to show here how its wings were folded and over laped on its back.

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