This spider wasp, having stung and paralyzed a spider, is now on a mission to stash it in a burrow, cavity, or mud cell (depending on the species), along with an egg. The helpless spider will provide fresh food for a single offspring. Many species can subdue spiders much larger than themselves, and the most famous members of this family are certainly the tarantula-hawk wasps of the desert Southwest. The adult’s diet is on the gentler side, with many species visiting aphid colonies for honeydew or flowers for nectar. Keep your eye out for these solitary wasps, constantly moving and flicking their wings as they dash out and about in search of spiders.
Photos by: Rose Marchak on 8/14/21 in Missoula, MT
