TARANTULA WASP !

[1972coronet]

It's been a year or six since I've seen one of these mothers - the Tarantula Hawk (et alia) !

Second most painful sting, with the Bullet Ant taking the number one spot - a hearty , winged mother from the depths of hades !

Anyone else here - they're mostly in the southwest U.S. - had a close call with one of these black-with-amber-wings " [BLAH-BLAH-BLAH] " ?

 

[johnyrotten]

So glad I don't live in an area with critters of that nature. I did have these guys hanging out in my lawn one season. I've seen Videos about tarantula wasps, nope, no thank you. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

That's a seriously bad--- looking bug. Sure glad they aren't as big as housecats. Or horses.

[JollySipper]

We have these little fellows to deal with......... The Velvet Ant, also known as a Cow Ant. They've been known to bring down full grown large animals, hence the name. They don't sting with a stinger, they BITE! Look at the jaws on them......... This isn't my picture, I borrowed it from the web......

 

[Mike C]

There are other types of wasps that use other bugs for their larva, the cicada and cockroaches are also "victimized" this way.

[LennyB]

All we have around here are stink bugs. You have to be careful if you kill one as they give off a noxious odor if you squash them and the smell just attracts more. You have to collect them in a water bottle half full of soapy water. They are so dumb they will dive right in.

[89AKurt]

Funny the subject is stink bugs.  The Juniper stink bug, same noxious odor, if in the house they dive bomb you.

 

[johnyrotten]

1 hour ago, LennyB said:

All we have around here are stink bugs. You have to be careful if you kill one as they give off a noxious odor if you squash them and the smell just attracts more. You have to collect them in a water bottle half full of soapy water. They are so dumb they will dive right in.

I go to war with these every year. Joys of living in the woods. 

[NYLIBUD]

???????Nasty looking mothers.