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24-AUG-2004

Tarantula Hawk

It looks like what the book says is a Tarantula hawk, 1 1/2 inches long (I say 10 inches...he was HUGE). They provision their nests with spiders, including tarantulas, as food for their immatures. They sting the tarantulas and drag them into burrows in the ground. It says females can sting but are not aggressive, but males can't sting and are aggressive. I DIDN'T HANG AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO FIND OUT! It was eating on a rotten banana I put out for the butterflies.


They were around today: Gulf Fritillary: http://www.pbase.com/image/32979263
Queen: http://www.pbase.com/image/32979472

Nikon Coolpix 4500
1/211s f/3.6 at 17.3mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Carmen29-Aug-2004 04:02
Guess you need to stick out your "No Tarantula Hawks Allowed" sign, eh? I had something like this around here, but I'm pretty sure it's not the same thing. I think mine was a mud-dauber wasp. They were a gorgeous blue-black with blue tinted wings, and huge also. The thing I read about them said they were harmless, but they took up residence on the back step. They were very rambunctious and while they never really hurt me they were a little bit intimidating and a little over-aggressive. Note that I use the past tense...
Stu25-Aug-2004 15:19
Awesome looking creature
laine8225-Aug-2004 12:27
He has a sweet tooth too. ;>) Fantastic photo all round.
Argishti Khachik25-Aug-2004 08:49
WOW, this is a monster bug. Good that he didn't see you ;-)
Well, a wonderful shot petesie. Great composition and colors. Nice DOF!
cheers
Guest 25-Aug-2004 08:32
This is very good, and your frame is great!
Gayle P. Clement25-Aug-2004 05:10

Very scary bug! Wonderful butterflies.
Guest 25-Aug-2004 02:59
Fantastic, Petesie. This is awesome!!
snootydog25-Aug-2004 02:28
This is SO COOL petesie... I've never seen anything quite like it. I wouldn't have hung around long either.
Herb 25-Aug-2004 01:00
Excellent close up
Larry Ahern25-Aug-2004 00:29
Wow ... talk about a spiders nightmare!
Karen Leaf25-Aug-2004 00:10
It looks HUGE!! And it looks like you were really close. You are a brave woman, Petesie!
Guest 24-Aug-2004 23:51
I wouldn't hang around either Petesie,it looks pretty mean.Nice shot.
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