Tarantula hawk

The vivid coloration found on their bodies, and especially wings, is aposematic, advertising to potential predators the wasps' ability to deliver a powerful sting.

[1][2] The female tarantula hawk wasp stings a tarantula between the legs, paralyzing it, and then drags the prey to a specially prepared burrow, where a single egg is laid on the spider's abdomen, and the burrow entrance is covered.

Finally, the wasp becomes an adult and emerges from the spider's abdomen to continue the life cycle.

[4] Male tarantula hawks have been observed practicing a behavior called hill-topping, in which they sit atop tall plants and watch for passing females ready to reproduce.

[1] Worldwide distribution of tarantula hawks includes areas from India to Southeast Asia, Africa,[6] Australia, and the Americas, with the genus Pepsis entirely restricted to the New World.

[citation needed] The two species are difficult to distinguish, but the majority of P. grossa have metallic blue bodies and reddish antennae, which separates them from P. thisbe.

Aside from the possibility of triggering an allergic reaction, the sting is not dangerous and does not require medical attention.