A lot of folks seem to hate wasps, but what about a wasp that hunts spiders?

September 17, 2020

A lot of folks seem to hate wasps, but what about a wasp that hunts spiders? This is Tachypompilus ferrugineus, also known as the rusty spider wasp or red-tailed spider hunter!

These large wasps have a wide range, stretching from Canada all the way down to South America! These wasps are solitary, meaning that they don't live in large communal nests, but instead dig small, simple nests in dry soil. The adults eat nectar from a wide variety of flowers. Their larvae, however, are not vegetarians (and if you've been following these nature posts for a while, you probably already know where this one is going).

Rusty spider wasps are spider hunters, and they prefer to target large wandering spiders. In Virginia, that means they mostly go after large wolf spiders. They sting the spider, which paralyzes it rather than killing it, and then drag it to their nest, just like the wasp and its unfortunate spider companion in this photo. Once the spider is inside the nest, which isn't much more than a depression in the earth, the wasp lays a single egg on the spider's abdomen and then covers the nest up with dirt. They'll even drag leaves and debris over the nest to camouflage it! Once the wasp egg hatches, the larva eats the immobilized spider alive.

Thank you to VMNH Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Dr. Kal Ivanov for identifying this one for me! #BenInNature

ABOUT THIS POST
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.

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